RE: [xsl] The output of evaluating an XSLT transform is the same regardless of the order in which output elements are evaluated. Right?

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

Yesterday I wrote:

>> Is this statement true or false:
>>
>>   XSLT elements that produce output can be
>>   evaluated in any order.

Michael Kay responded:

> Well, your terminology is wrong. I guess you are referring to XSLT
> instructions; they don't "produce output", they are evaluated to return a
> result value.

Hi Michael, I carefully avoided using the word "instruction" or "statement"
because on March 24 on the xml-dev list you wrote:

   Declarative programming doesn't use "statements" or
   "instructions". It describes the relationship of the output to the input.

QUESTION #1

Why do you now say "XSLT instructions"?


QUESTION #2

Michael, I think that I read this in your latest book (around page 930, I
think):

   The elements in an XSLT document can be executed in any order, even in
parallel.

Yesterday I thought that I had it all figured out: the in-memory result tree
can be constructed in any order, even in parallel. However, from yesterday's
responses, I am more confused than before. Would you (or anyone) please
explain how the elements in an XSLT document can be executed in any order,
even in parallel?

/Roger