Secure XML: The New Syntax for Signatures and Encryption

7.3. XPointer

XPointer is the syntax you use for the most general addressing of parts of an XML object [XPointer]. When an HTTP URI references XML, any fragment specifier to select a portion of the XML is written in XPointer syntax. XPointer can also be called explicitly to extract a subset of data (see Chapter 19). Note that XPointer does not include any way to point into the DTD or XML declaration for a document.

XPointer extends XPath so that you can use it in the following ways:

• As a fragment identifier in a URI reference

• To locate information by string matching

• To address points and ranges within XML

In XML Security URIs, you should rarely encounter ...