System.Xml.XPath.XPathNavigator.Compile Method

Compiles a string representing an XPath expression and returns an System.Xml.XPath.XPathExpression object.

Syntax

public virtual XPathExpression Compile (string xpath)

Parameters

xpath
A string representing an XPath expression.

Returns

An System.Xml.XPath.XPathExpression object representing the XPath expression.

Remarks

An XPath expression is evaluated to yield one of the following return types:

  • Node Set: an unordered collection of nodes without duplicates

  • Boolean: true or false

  • Number: a floating-point number

  • String: a sequence of UCS characters

Expressions that return a node set can be used in the XPathNavigator.Select(XPathExpression) and XPathNavigator.Evaluate(XPathExpression) methods. Expressions that return a Boolean, number, or string can be used in the XPathNavigator.Evaluate(XPathExpression) method. The rules on valid expressions for the XPathNavigator.Matches(XPathExpression) method are specific to that method.

Requirements

Namespace: System.Xml.XPath
Assembly: System.Xml (in System.Xml.dll)
Assembly Versions: 1.0.5000.0, 2.0.0.0, 4.0.0.0