XQuery
The XML Query Language
Published on 12. February 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
544 pages
978-0-321-16581-7 (ISBN)
Description
"An excellent, early look at the emerging XML Query standard. The chapters on surprises and gotchas alone are worth the price of admission!"
-Ashok Malhotra, Architect, Microsoft "XQuery is the most important XML standard to emerge in recent years, and is a language with which anyone using XML on a regular basis should become acquainted. Michael Brundage's accessible introduction to XQuery provides enough information on all aspects of the standard, including its dark corners, to allow any XML developer to jump right in and start coding."
-Damien Fisher, Kernel Team Member, Soda Technologies Pty Ltd "This book does an excellent job of distilling the essentials of XQuery in an understandable, straightforward and easily digestable manner. This book has already become an indispensible part of my library and is a welcome addition to my XML repertoire."
-Dare Obasanjo, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation "Simply put, the emerging XQuery standard adds enormous value to XML data and this book is your key to unlocking that value. Here in one stop you will find an accessible introduction to XQuery and a complete reference. Practitioners will particularly value the sections on XQuery idioms and surprises where Michael shares his tricks of the trade."
-Dave Van Buren, Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory "It's both a stupendous reference on XQuery and a good read. Michael writes with verve, authority, and an eminently readable style. What a rare delight to discover all this, and in a technical book too! When the sequel comes along, sign me up."
-Howard Katz, Owner, Fatdog Software Inc., Editor, XQuery from the Experts (Addison-Wesley, 2003) From corporate IT departments to academic institutions, XML has become the language of choice for storing and transmitting data across diverse application domains. XQuery, an XML Query Language invented by the World Wide Web Consortium, offers a powerful, standardized way to query all of that XML-encapsulated information. With its ability to integrate XML and non-XML data, XQuery seems poised to do for XML what SQL has done for relational data.
Written by the Technical Lead for XML query processing at Microsoft, XQuery: The XML Query Language is an invaluable resource for XQuery novices and experts alike. For those new to XQuery, this example-rich text serves as a tutorial that brings readers quickly up to speed on XQuery's data model, type system, and core language features. More experienced XML and database developers will find an excellent reference on the nuances of various expressions, as well as a guide to using XQuery to accomplish specific tasks.
Drawing on his experiences using XQuery, Michael Brundage offers an objective, inside look at this emerging technology. His unique perspective translates into an accessible and authoritative guide for readers using XML for documents, Web services, or databases.
Key coverage includes:
Data model and type system
Path navigation
Iteration, construction, arithmetic, text processing, type operators and user-defined functions
Information beyond the standard-such as a look at update languages, performance benchmarks, query optimization, XQuery style, and much, much more
Hundreds of examples
The future of XQuery The appendixes provide in-depth information on XQuery's type system, core expressions, built-in functions, regular expressions, and grammar. Meanwhile, the companion Web site offers downloadable source code for all of the examples in the book, the latest on the XQuery standard, answers to readers' questions, XQuery tips and strategies, and more.
XQuery will show developers, programmers, and database administrators how a single line of this deep and powerful new language can accomplish the equivalent of hundreds of lines written in C, C#, Java, and other general-purpose programming languages.
-Ashok Malhotra, Architect, Microsoft "XQuery is the most important XML standard to emerge in recent years, and is a language with which anyone using XML on a regular basis should become acquainted. Michael Brundage's accessible introduction to XQuery provides enough information on all aspects of the standard, including its dark corners, to allow any XML developer to jump right in and start coding."
-Damien Fisher, Kernel Team Member, Soda Technologies Pty Ltd "This book does an excellent job of distilling the essentials of XQuery in an understandable, straightforward and easily digestable manner. This book has already become an indispensible part of my library and is a welcome addition to my XML repertoire."
-Dare Obasanjo, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation "Simply put, the emerging XQuery standard adds enormous value to XML data and this book is your key to unlocking that value. Here in one stop you will find an accessible introduction to XQuery and a complete reference. Practitioners will particularly value the sections on XQuery idioms and surprises where Michael shares his tricks of the trade."
-Dave Van Buren, Project Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory "It's both a stupendous reference on XQuery and a good read. Michael writes with verve, authority, and an eminently readable style. What a rare delight to discover all this, and in a technical book too! When the sequel comes along, sign me up."
-Howard Katz, Owner, Fatdog Software Inc., Editor, XQuery from the Experts (Addison-Wesley, 2003) From corporate IT departments to academic institutions, XML has become the language of choice for storing and transmitting data across diverse application domains. XQuery, an XML Query Language invented by the World Wide Web Consortium, offers a powerful, standardized way to query all of that XML-encapsulated information. With its ability to integrate XML and non-XML data, XQuery seems poised to do for XML what SQL has done for relational data.
Written by the Technical Lead for XML query processing at Microsoft, XQuery: The XML Query Language is an invaluable resource for XQuery novices and experts alike. For those new to XQuery, this example-rich text serves as a tutorial that brings readers quickly up to speed on XQuery's data model, type system, and core language features. More experienced XML and database developers will find an excellent reference on the nuances of various expressions, as well as a guide to using XQuery to accomplish specific tasks.
Drawing on his experiences using XQuery, Michael Brundage offers an objective, inside look at this emerging technology. His unique perspective translates into an accessible and authoritative guide for readers using XML for documents, Web services, or databases.
Key coverage includes:
Data model and type system
Path navigation
Iteration, construction, arithmetic, text processing, type operators and user-defined functions
Information beyond the standard-such as a look at update languages, performance benchmarks, query optimization, XQuery style, and much, much more
Hundreds of examples
The future of XQuery The appendixes provide in-depth information on XQuery's type system, core expressions, built-in functions, regular expressions, and grammar. Meanwhile, the companion Web site offers downloadable source code for all of the examples in the book, the latest on the XQuery standard, answers to readers' questions, XQuery tips and strategies, and more.
XQuery will show developers, programmers, and database administrators how a single line of this deep and powerful new language can accomplish the equivalent of hundreds of lines written in C, C#, Java, and other general-purpose programming languages.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 179 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
880 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-321-16581-7 (9780321165817)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael Brundage, the Technical Lead for XML query processing at Microsoft, designed the architecture for Microsoft's .NET Common Query Runtime and implemented the XML query optimizer for XPath, XSLT, and XQuery. He also implemented XPath over XML Views in SQL Server 2000, and has several patents and publications on XML query processing. Previously, he was a Senior Software Engineer at Caltech and NASA's Interferometry Science Center, where he worked on projects such as AstroVR and the search for extrasolar planets.
0321165810AB11112003
0321165810AB11112003
Content
List of Figures.
Foreword.
Preface.
Who Should Read This Book?
Organization.
Resources.
Acknowledgments.
I. FOUNDATIONS.
1. A Tour of XQuery.
Introduction.
Getting Started.
Notational Conventions.
Why XQuery?
Documents and Databases.
Typed and Untyped Data.
A Sample Query.
Processing Model.
Comments and Whitespace.
Prolog.
Constants.
XML.
Built-in Functions.
Operators.
Paths.
Variables.
FLWOR.
Error Handling.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
2. Data Model and Type System.
Introduction.
An Overview of XML Data Models.
Structure of the XQuery Data Model.
Atomic Types.
Node Kinds.
Common Type Conversions.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
3. Navigation.
Introduction.
Paths.
Navigation Functions.
Navigation Context.
Navigation Examples.
Navigation Complexities.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
4. Functions and Modules.
Introduction.
Built-in Function Library.
Function Invocation.
Function Conversion Rules.
User-Defined Functions.
Recursion.
External Functions.
Modules.
Conclusion.
II. CORE LANGUAGE FEATURES.
5. Basic Expressions.
Introduction.
Comparisons.
Sequences.
Arithmetic.
Logic.
Query Prolog.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
6. Iteration.
Introduction.
FLWOR.
Quantification.
Joins.
Comparing Sequences.
Sorting.
Grouping.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
7. Constructing XML.
Introduction.
Element Nodes.
Attribute Nodes.
Text Nodes.
Document Nodes.
Comment Nodes.
Processing Instruction Nodes.
Namespace Nodes.
Composition.
Validation.
Element and Attribute Content.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
8. Text Processing.
Introduction.
The XML Character Model.
Character Encodings.
Collations.
Text Operators.
Text Functions.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
9. Type Operators.
Introduction.
Cast and Castable.
Type Conversion Rules.
treat as.
instance of and typeswitch.
User-Defined Types.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
III. APPLICATION.
10. Practical Examples.
Introduction.
Style.
Idioms.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
11. Surprises.
Introduction.
Confusion over Meaning.
Confusion over Syntax.
Conclusion.
12. XQuery Serialization.
Introduction.
XQuery Serialization.
XQueryX.
Conclusion.
13. Query Optimization.
Introduction.
Common Query Optimizations.
Barriers to Optimization.
Formal Semantics.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
14. Beyond the Standard.
Introduction.
Potential Changes.
Standards Roadmap.
XQuery 1.1.
Data Manipulation.
Full-Text Search.
Performance Benchmarks.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
IV. REFERENCE.
Appendix A. Data Model and Type System Reference.
Introduction.
Overview.
Node Kinds.
Atomic Types.
Primitive Type Conversions.
Built-in Atomic Types.
Appendix B. Expression Reference.
Introduction.
Appendix C. Function Reference.
Introduction.
Appendix D. Regular Expressions.
Introduction.
Overview.
Advanced Regexps.
Regexp Language.
Character Properties.
Appendix E. Grammar.
Introduction.
The XQuery Grammar.
Reserved Keywords.
Operator Precedence.
Bibliography.
Standards.
Working Drafts and Notes.
Further Reading.
Index.
Foreword.
Preface.
Who Should Read This Book?
Organization.
Resources.
Acknowledgments.
I. FOUNDATIONS.
1. A Tour of XQuery.
Introduction.
Getting Started.
Notational Conventions.
Why XQuery?
Documents and Databases.
Typed and Untyped Data.
A Sample Query.
Processing Model.
Comments and Whitespace.
Prolog.
Constants.
XML.
Built-in Functions.
Operators.
Paths.
Variables.
FLWOR.
Error Handling.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
2. Data Model and Type System.
Introduction.
An Overview of XML Data Models.
Structure of the XQuery Data Model.
Atomic Types.
Node Kinds.
Common Type Conversions.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
3. Navigation.
Introduction.
Paths.
Navigation Functions.
Navigation Context.
Navigation Examples.
Navigation Complexities.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
4. Functions and Modules.
Introduction.
Built-in Function Library.
Function Invocation.
Function Conversion Rules.
User-Defined Functions.
Recursion.
External Functions.
Modules.
Conclusion.
II. CORE LANGUAGE FEATURES.
5. Basic Expressions.
Introduction.
Comparisons.
Sequences.
Arithmetic.
Logic.
Query Prolog.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
6. Iteration.
Introduction.
FLWOR.
Quantification.
Joins.
Comparing Sequences.
Sorting.
Grouping.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
7. Constructing XML.
Introduction.
Element Nodes.
Attribute Nodes.
Text Nodes.
Document Nodes.
Comment Nodes.
Processing Instruction Nodes.
Namespace Nodes.
Composition.
Validation.
Element and Attribute Content.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
8. Text Processing.
Introduction.
The XML Character Model.
Character Encodings.
Collations.
Text Operators.
Text Functions.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
9. Type Operators.
Introduction.
Cast and Castable.
Type Conversion Rules.
treat as.
instance of and typeswitch.
User-Defined Types.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
III. APPLICATION.
10. Practical Examples.
Introduction.
Style.
Idioms.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
11. Surprises.
Introduction.
Confusion over Meaning.
Confusion over Syntax.
Conclusion.
12. XQuery Serialization.
Introduction.
XQuery Serialization.
XQueryX.
Conclusion.
13. Query Optimization.
Introduction.
Common Query Optimizations.
Barriers to Optimization.
Formal Semantics.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
14. Beyond the Standard.
Introduction.
Potential Changes.
Standards Roadmap.
XQuery 1.1.
Data Manipulation.
Full-Text Search.
Performance Benchmarks.
Conclusion.
Further Reading.
IV. REFERENCE.
Appendix A. Data Model and Type System Reference.
Introduction.
Overview.
Node Kinds.
Atomic Types.
Primitive Type Conversions.
Built-in Atomic Types.
Appendix B. Expression Reference.
Introduction.
Appendix C. Function Reference.
Introduction.
Appendix D. Regular Expressions.
Introduction.
Overview.
Advanced Regexps.
Regexp Language.
Character Properties.
Appendix E. Grammar.
Introduction.
The XQuery Grammar.
Reserved Keywords.
Operator Precedence.
Bibliography.
Standards.
Working Drafts and Notes.
Further Reading.
Index.