Python ElementTree "Invalid descendant" error

Question

I have an XML file, foo.xml:

<foo>
    <bar>
        <baz phrase="hello"/>
    </bar>
    <quux phrase="goodbye"/>
</foo>

I'm parsing it with this Python code:

import lxml.etree as ET
# or if you don't have lxml: import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET

doc = ET.parse('foo.xml').getroot()

for elem in doc.findall('*[@phrase]'):
    print(elem)

That gives me:

<Element 'quux' at 0x7fa1419a1d18>

Now I want to find all elements with a phrase attribute, so I tried './/[@phrase]' but then findall() fails:

SyntaxError: invalid descendant

I don't understand what's wrong. The same error message appears if I use the built-in xml.etree.ElementTree instead of lxml.

Note that './/' works, but returns bar, baz, quux and I don't want bar because it doesn't have a phrase attribute.

you need * in .//*[@phrase]

furas
– furas

2016-11-14 05:24:26 +00:00
Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 5:24 — furas
– furas, Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 5:24
@furas that should be an answer

Jim Garrison
– Jim Garrison

2016-11-14 05:35:01 +00:00
Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 5:35 — Jim Garrison
– Jim Garrison, Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 5:35

furas · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-14 05:41:50Z

12

You need * as tag name in ".//*[@phrase]"

answered Nov 14, 2016 at 5:41

furas

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