XSLT Functions and Elements

Estimated study time: 14 minutes.

Beyond templates, XSLT provides a set of built-in elements for outputting values, looping, and branching logic within a stylesheet.

xsl:value-of

<xsl:value-of select="title"/>

Outputs the text value of whatever the XPath expression selects.

xsl:for-each

<ul>
  <xsl:for-each select="modules/module">
    <li><xsl:value-of select="."/></li>
  </xsl:for-each>
</ul>

Loops over every node matching the selection, repeating its content for each one.

xsl:if

<xsl:if test="@level='beginner'">
  <p>This course is beginner-friendly.</p>
</xsl:if>

A simple one-way condition — the content only appears if the test is true.

xsl:choose / xsl:when / xsl:otherwise

<xsl:choose>
  <xsl:when test="@level='beginner'">
    <p>Beginner level</p>
  </xsl:when>
  <xsl:otherwise>
    <p>Advanced level</p>
  </xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>

Works like an if/else-if/else chain for more than two possible outcomes.