**XPath**
**Definition**
XPath (XML Path Language) is a query language used to select nodes from an XML document. It provides a syntax for navigating through elements and attributes in XML structures.
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## Overview
XPath is a fundamental technology in XML processing, designed to address the need for locating specific parts of an XML document efficiently. It is widely used in conjunction with other XML technologies such as XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) and XQuery.
## Syntax and Expressions
XPath expressions use path-like syntax to navigate XML trees. Basic expressions include selecting nodes by name, attributes, or position. For example, `/bookstore/book[1]` selects the first book element within the bookstore element. XPath supports a variety of operators and functions to filter and manipulate node sets, including logical operators, string functions, and numeric comparisons.
## Applications
XPath is commonly employed in XML data extraction, transformation, and validation tasks. It is integral to web scraping, configuration file parsing, and automated testing frameworks that interact with XML or HTML documents.
## Versions
The most widely used version is XPath 1.0, standardized by the W3C in 1999. Subsequent versions, such as XPath 2.0 and 3.0, introduced enhanced data types and functions, improving expressiveness and flexibility.
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**Meta Description**
XPath is a query language for selecting nodes in XML documents, enabling efficient navigation and data extraction. It is widely used in XML processing and related technologies.