XQUERY :basics for beginners - learn XQuery

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XQuery Basics for Beginners

XQuery is a powerful tool for querying and manipulating XML data. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to get you started.

1. What is XQuery?

XQuery (XML Query Language) is designed specifically for querying XML data. It allows you to extract, transform, and manipulate XML documents.

2. Basic Syntax

An XQuery expression can be as simple as selecting nodes from an XML document. Here’s the basic structure:

xquery
for $variable in doc("file.xml")//node
return $variable

3. Key Components

  • FLWOR Expressions: The foundation of XQuery, consisting of:
    • For: Iterates over a sequence of items.
    • Let: Binds a value to a variable.
    • Where: Filters the items based on a condition.
    • Return: Specifies what to return from the expression.

Example:

xquery
for $book in doc("books.xml")//book
where $book/price < 20
return $book/title

4. XPath Integration

XQuery uses XPath to navigate XML documents. You can select nodes and attributes easily.

Example:

xquery
doc("books.xml")//author

5. Defining Functions

You can define reusable functions in XQuery.

Example:

xquery
declare function local:price-check($price as xs:decimal) as xs:boolean {
  return $price < 20
};

for $book in doc("books.xml")//book
where local:price-check($book/price)
return $book/title

6. Data Transformation

You can transform XML data into different formats.

Example:

xquery
let $books := doc("books.xml")//book
return
  <html>
    <body>
      { for $book in $books return <p>{$book/title/text()}</p> }
    </body>
  </html>

7. Using XQuery with Databases

XQuery can query XML databases directly:

xquery
for $customer in db:customers()//customer
where $customer/status = "active"
return $customer/name

8. Common Functions

  • count(): Returns the number of items.
  • concat(): Concatenates strings.
  • substring(): Extracts a substring.

9. Practice and Resources

  • Practice: Try writing and executing queries on sample XML data.
  • Resources: Check out online tutorials, documentation, and books focused on XQuery.

Conclusion

XQuery is an essential tool for anyone working with XML data. By mastering its basics, you can efficiently query and manipulate XML documents for various applications. Start experimenting with simple queries and gradually explore more advanced features!