XPath to select element based on childs child value

James Walsh picture James Walsh · Mar 13, 2012 · Viewed 158.5k times · Source

Trying to select an element based on the value of one of it's childrens childrens

Thinking the following but not working, appreciate any help, thanks

./book[/author/name = 'John'] or

./book[/author/name text() = 'John']

Want all books where the author name = 'John'

Xml file

<list>
   <book>
      <author>
         <name>John</name>
         <number>4324234</number>
      </author>
      <title>New Book</title>
      <isbn>dsdaassda</isbn>
   </book>
   <book>...</book>
   <book>...</book>
</list>

Answer

AakashM picture AakashM · Mar 13, 2012

Almost there. In your predicate, you want a relative path, so change

./book[/author/name = 'John'] 

to either

./book[author/name = 'John'] 

or

./book[./author/name = 'John'] 

and you will match your element. Your current predicate goes back to the root of the document to look for an author.