For processing content, one-based makes a lot of sense.
<book>
<chapter/>
<chapter/>
<chapter/>
</book>
Do I select the zero chapter or the first chapter?
For arrays it is neither here nor there. Javascript, Java, C++,
CSharp use zero-base notation because they all borrow their syntax
from C.
--
John Cavalieri
john(_dot_)cavalieri(_at_)gmail(_dot_)com
From: Justin Johansson <procode(_at_)adam(_dot_)com(_dot_)au>
Subject: One-based indexes in XPath
Trusting this question is relevant to the XSL List.
Would someone please give me advice as to why "1-based" indexes are used in
XPath, such as para[1] instead of para[0] for the first para item/element?
Why does the spec for XPath (and its/XQuery operator/function library) go
against the norm for modern programming languages in which zero is the base
for array-like collections?
The reason for my question is to do with reconciling XPath and XSLT with an
implementation in Javascript in which zero is the base index for arrays.
My users may well be perplexed by having to decide whether an index number
is in XPath/XSLT-world or Javascript-world.
Thanks for comments,
Justin Johansson
--~------------------------------------------------------------------
XSL-List info and archive: http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
To unsubscribe, go to: http://lists.mulberrytech.com/xsl-list/
or e-mail: <mailto:xsl-list-unsubscribe(_at_)lists(_dot_)mulberrytech(_dot_)com>
--~--