Re: [xsl] check if a node is empty

[Jeni Tennison <jeni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Vasu,

> would the following statement
> <xsl:template match="node">
> ....
> <xsl:when test="count(*)=0"> ( to check for empty child elements)
> ----
> </xsl:template>
> be any inefficient ?( was just thinking of other ways to do it
> besides the standard ones you have suggested )

It would be more inefficient (at least with a naive processor) because
the processor would have to visit every child element of the current
node in order to count them. Node visits take time, so avoiding them
is a good idea. On the other hand, that's also the case with a naive
implementation of:

  test="*"

However, most processors will rewrite this test to:

  test="*[1]"

which only involves one node visit. I believe that Saxon rewrites
count(*) = 0 to boolean(*[1]) as well, actually, so perhaps there's
not much in it...

So try it and see with your favourite processor :)

Cheers,

Jeni

---
Jeni Tennison
http://www.jenitennison.com/


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