How to parse through a Node and extract the value of a child node in Java?

Question

The input to the function this code is in, is a Node configNode. I need to extract the value of a child node inTemplate. The following is the code. Only null is printed.

XPath xpath = XPathFactory.newInstance().newXPath();
Node inTemplateNode = (Node) xpath.compile("@inTemplate").evaluate(configNode, XPathConstants.NODE);
String inTemplate = (inTemplateNode != null) ? inTemplateNode.getTextContent() : null;
        System.out.println("inTemplate Value =" + inTemplate);

Can anyone help me as to why this code is not working.

It would be helpful if you also post the XML file.

zx485
– zx485

2016-02-17 16:18:26 +00:00
Commented Feb 17, 2016 at 16:18 — zx485
– zx485, Commented Feb 17, 2016 at 16:18

Martin Honnen · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-17 16:23:17Z

1

The XPath expression @inTemplate selects the attribute named inTemplate of the context node (e.g. <config inTemplate="foo"/>). If you really need an attribute value then doing ((Element)configNode).getAttribute("inTemplate") should work in the DOM without the need to use any XPath.

If you want to select a child element (e.g. <config><inTemplate>foo</inTemplate></config>) named inTemplate then use the path inTemplate and not @inTemplate.

answered Feb 17, 2016 at 16:23

Martin Honnen

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