XPath-esque Methods

$element->query($xpath)

Finds matching nodes using an XPath-esque query from anywhere in the tree. Like the "param" method found in CGI, calling "query" in a SCALAR context will return only the first matching node. In an ARRAY context all matching elements are returned.

$element->match($xpath)

"match" is inherited from Class::XPath and always returns an array regardless of context. While "query" is generally preferred, using match in a scalar context is a good quick way of getting a count of matching nodes. See the Class::XPath documentation for more information.

$element->xpath

Returns a unique XPath string to the current node which can be used as an identifier.

These methods were implemented for internal use with Class::XPath and have now been exposed for general use.

$elemenet->qname

Returns the QName of the element based on the internal namespace prefix mapping.

$element->attribute_qnames

Returns an array of attribute names in namespace qualified (QName) form based on the internal prefix mapping.

$element->attribute_by_qname($qname)

Returns an array of attribute names in namespace qualified (QName) form.

2x API Methods

These were easily re-implemented though implementing them with only the methods provided by XML::Elemental are trivial. They are still available for backwards compatability reasons.

These methods are now considered deprecated.

$element->attribute($name [, $value] )

Returns the value of an attribute specified by $name as a SCALAR. If an optional second text parameter $value is passed in the attribute is set. Returns "undef" if the attribute does not exist.

Using the "attributes" method you could replicate this method like so:

 $element->attributes->{$name};          #get
 $element->attributes->{$name} = $value; #set
    

$element->child( [$extended_name] )

Constructs and returns a new element object making the current object as its parent. An optional parameter representing the name of the new element object can be passed. This should be the fully namespace qualified (extended) name and not the QName or local part.

$element->children( [$extended_name] )

Returns any array of child elements to the object. An optional parameter can be passed in to return element(s) with a specific name. If called in a SCALAR context it will return only the first element with this name. If called in an ARRAY context the function returns all elements with this name. If no elements exist as a child of the object, and undefined value is returned.

NOTE: In keeping with the original behaviour of the 2x API, this method only returns XML::RSS::Parser::Elements. XML::RSS::Parser::Characters are stripped out. Use the "contents" method for the full list of child objects.

$element->children_names

Returns an array containing the names of the objects children. Empty if no children are present.

NOTE: In keeping with the original behaviour of the 2x API, this method only returns the names of XML::RSS::Parser::Elements. XML::RSS::Parser::Characters are not present.