Re: [xsl] Does the count() function require access to the whole subtree?

[David Carlisle <davidc@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 12/01/2014 11:10, Costello, Roger L. wrote:
> A couple days ago Michael Kay wrote:
>
> Inspection operations on an element are operations that can be
> performed while positioned at the start tag.
>
> Inspection operations include: count(), exists(), name().
>
> Absorption operations are operations that require access to the whole
> subtree.
>
> Absorption operations include: string(), data(), xsl:value-of
>
> Michael, doesn't the count() function require access to the whole
> subtree? How would a count be conducted by sitting at the top of a
> subtree? Perhaps you meant to say that the count() function is an
> absorption operation?
>
> /Roger

consider count(/) and string(/)

count() can return 1 straight away, whereas string() needs to process 
the entire tree below /.

David