RE: [xsl] side effect definition

["Michael Kay" <mhkay@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I just want to make sure that I understand what
> the term "side effect free" mean. Is my simplistic
> understanding, stated below accurate:
>
> "Assuming no usage of extension functions or elements,
> pure XSLT programming is side effect free because it
> doesn't maintain global state." -- Gavin

I'm not sure that "global state" is any clearer a concept than "side
effect", but if you're happy with it then use it.

I'd prefer to describe a side-effect-free function as being a function whose
only inputs are the values of the arguments plus the Context object, and
whose only output is its return value.

Mike Kay


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