5️⃣ 🎨 XSLT Tutorial – Transform XML with Stylesheets
🧲 Introduction – Why Learn XSLT?
XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) is a powerful language for transforming XML documents into other formats—such as HTML, plain text, or another XML structure. It helps separate content from presentation and is essential when integrating data from XML-based systems into user-friendly displays.
🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What XSLT is and how it works
- Common XSLT tags like
<template>,<value-of>,<for-each> - Client-side vs server-side transformations
- How to filter, sort, and conditionally process XML data
- Real-world usage examples of XSLT
📘 Topics Covered
| 🔢 Topic | 📄 Description |
|---|---|
| 📖 XSLT Introduction | Overview of XSLT and its role in XML transformations |
| 🔤 XSL Languages | XSLT, XPath, and XSL-FO explained |
| 🔁 XSLT Transform | How to apply XSLT to an XML document |
📄 XSLT <template> | Rule-based transformation structure |
🔍 XSLT <value-of> | Extract values from XML elements |
🔁 XSLT <for-each> | Loop through XML nodes |
🧮 XSLT <sort> | Sort data during transformation |
⚖️ XSLT <if> | Conditional checks in transformation |
🔀 XSLT <choose> | Use multiple conditions like switch-case |
| 🧩 XSLT Apply | Using <apply-templates> for recursion |
| 💻 XSLT on the Client | Transforming XML using browser-based XSLT |
| 🖥️ XSLT on the Server | Server-side XSLT processing using tools like PHP/Java |
| 📝 XSLT Edit XML | Modifying or shaping XML using templates |
| 💡 XSLT Examples | Practical transformation examples |
📖 XSLT Introduction
XSLT is part of the XSL (eXtensible Stylesheet Language) family and is used to convert XML data into various output formats.
✅ XSL includes:
- XSLT – Transformation logic
- XPath – Querying nodes
- XSL-FO – Formatting for print layouts (less common)
🔤 XSL Languages
| Language | Purpose |
|---|---|
| XSLT | Transform XML to other formats |
| XPath | Navigate through XML nodes |
| XSL-FO | Style XML for print/PDF (layout-focused) |
🔁 XSLT Transform – Basic Setup
Link XSLT to XML:
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="style.xsl"?>
XSLT Document Template:
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0"
xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
<xsl:template match="/">
<html><body>
<h2>Books List</h2>
<xsl:apply-templates/>
</body></html>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
📄 XSLT <template>
Defines rules for transforming matching elements.
<xsl:template match="book">
<div>
<xsl:value-of select="title"/>
</div>
</xsl:template>
🔍 XSLT <value-of>
Extracts and outputs values:
<xsl:value-of select="author"/>
✅ Used to pull data from the XML and render as text.
🔁 XSLT <for-each>
Used for looping through node sets:
<xsl:for-each select="bookstore/book">
<p><xsl:value-of select="title"/></p>
</xsl:for-each>
🧮 XSLT <sort>
Sorts elements alphabetically or numerically:
<xsl:for-each select="book">
<xsl:sort select="price" data-type="number" order="ascending"/>
<xsl:value-of select="title"/>
</xsl:for-each>
⚖️ XSLT <if>
Performs conditional logic:
<xsl:if test="price>50">
<p>Expensive Book</p>
</xsl:if>
🔀 XSLT <choose>
Multiple condition logic (like if-else-if):
<xsl:choose>
<xsl:when test="price>50">Premium</xsl:when>
<xsl:when test="price>20">Standard</xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwise>Budget</xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>
🧩 XSLT Apply Templates
Calls other matching templates recursively:
<xsl:apply-templates select="book"/>
This enables structured and nested transformations.
💻 XSLT on the Client
Browser support for client-side XSLT includes:
- Chrome
- Firefox
- Edge
- Safari (limited)
✅ Requires linking .xsl file via processing instruction.
🖥️ XSLT on the Server
Server-side transformation examples:
- PHP:
XSLTProcessorclass - Java:
TransformerFactorywith JAXP - .NET:
XslCompiledTransformclass
✅ Used to dynamically convert XML to HTML or formatted text on the backend.
📝 XSLT Edit XML
Although XSLT is mainly for output, it can be used to reshape, omit, or rename elements.
✅ Examples:
- Exclude empty nodes
- Rename tags
- Merge or split data fields
💡 XSLT Examples
Input XML:
<books>
<book><title>XML Basics</title><price>20</price></book>
<book><title>XSLT Advanced</title><price>60</price></book>
</books>
Output HTML via XSLT:
<h2>Book List</h2>
<p>XML Basics - $20</p>
<p>XSLT Advanced - $60</p>
✅ Achieved using <for-each> + <value-of>.
📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps
XSLT is essential for transforming structured XML data into readable formats like HTML or text. It supports looping, sorting, conditionals, and modular transformation logic through templates.
🔍 Key Takeaways:
- XSLT transforms XML into HTML, XML, or text
- Templates define output rules, often used with XPath
- Includes looping, conditionals, and sorting features
- Works client-side and server-side with wide support
⚙️ Real-World Relevance:
XSLT powers XML rendering in browsers, API responses, CMS templates, B2B data exchange, and e-commerce feeds, making it a critical tool for XML-heavy workflows.
❓ FAQ – XSLT
❓ What is XSLT used for?
✅ It’s used to transform XML data into other formats such as HTML, plain text, or another XML structure.
❓ What is the difference between XSL and XSLT?
✅ XSL refers to the full stylesheet language family; XSLT is the transformation part.
❓ Can XSLT run in the browser?
✅ Yes, via client-side processing with linked XSLT stylesheets.
❓ How does XSLT use XPath?
✅ XPath is used inside XSLT to locate XML elements and attributes.
❓ Is XSLT still relevant?
✅ Absolutely. It is widely used in enterprise systems, config tools, and any XML-heavy application.
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