[xsl] In the field of programming, where does xsl:apply-templates reside?

["Costello, Roger L." <costello@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Folks,

Introductory textbooks on programming identify  constructs common among
programming languages:

   - looping constructs
   - branching constructs
   - sequencing constructs

And others.

Where does xsl:apply-templates reside within the field of programming?

For example, if you were to map an XSLT program to, say, a Java program, what
Java construct would you map xsl:apply-templates to?

Perhaps asking how an XSLT construct maps to a Java construct is wrong, since
XSLT is a rule-based language and Java is not. Do you agree?

Perhaps a better question is, how does xsl:apply-templates map to constructs
in other rule-based languages? (I confess ignorance of other rule-based
languages).

    "xsl:apply-templates falls within the general category
     of _____________ constructs for rule-based languages."

Would you fill in the blank please?

/Roger