What is the correct XPath for choosing attributes that contain "foo"?

Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
September 2, 2023
Cover Image for What is the correct XPath for choosing attributes that contain "foo"?

🔎 XPath for Choosing Attributes that Contain "foo"

Are you struggling with finding the correct XPath to select attributes that contain the word "foo"? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll address common issues and provide easy solutions to help you solve this problem effortlessly. So, let's dive in and find the perfect XPath together! 💪🔍

💡 The Problem

Given the XML snippet mentioned above, our goal is to write an XPath expression that will select all elements whose prop attribute contains the word "foo". In this case, we want to retrieve the first three nodes with prop values of "Foo1", "Foo2", and "3Foo".

💻 The Solution

To select elements with attributes containing a specific value, we can make use of the contains() function in XPath. This function allows us to search for a substring within a string. So, in our case, we will combine the contains() function with the @ symbol to specify the attribute we want to match.

The correct XPath expression for selecting elements with the prop attribute that contains "foo" is:

//a[contains(@prop, 'foo')]

Let's break it down:

  • //a selects all <a> elements in the XML document.

  • contains(@prop, 'foo') checks if the value of the prop attribute contains the substring "foo".

By combining these two parts, we can accurately select the desired elements. ✨

🔍 An Example

To better illustrate how the XPath expression works, let's see it in action with our sample XML:

<bla>
  <a prop="Foo1"/>
  <a prop="Foo2"/>
  <a prop="3Foo"/>
  <a prop="Bar"/>
</bla>

If we apply the XPath expression //a[contains(@prop, 'foo')] to this XML, we will obtain the result we desire, which includes the first three <a> elements:

<a prop="Foo1"/>
<a prop="Foo2"/>
<a prop="3Foo"/>

📣 Spread the Knowledge

Now that you have conquered the correct XPath to select attributes containing "foo," it's time to put it into practice! Feel free to use this solution in your own XML projects and share your success stories with us. We would love to hear how this XPath expression helps you in your development endeavors!

If you found this blog post helpful, make sure to share it with your fellow tech enthusiasts and spread the knowledge. Let's empower each other with useful tips and tricks! 🌟💡

🔍 💬 Join the Conversation

Have any questions or encountered any issues while implementing this XPath expression? Don't hesitate to join the conversation in the comments section below. Our friendly community and knowledgeable experts are here to assist you and provide further clarifications. Let's learn and grow together! 💪🎉

So, what are you waiting for? Start unleashing the power of correct XPath expressions and rock your XML projects! Happy coding! 🚀👩‍💻👨‍💻

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