Return argument value as a string.

Related Syntax Constructs

The following construct(s) refer to this construct:

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Syntax

fn:string(item $value) => string

Description

This accessor function returns the value of $value represented as a string. If $value is a non-empty sequence, a type exception is raised. If $value is an empty sequence or an empty string, a string of length zero is returned as result. If $value is a node, the string value of the node is returned. If $value is an atomic value, it is converted to a string and returned.

Note that the value returned by this function, when applied to a node, may differ from the typed value, even if the node is specified in the schema as being of type xs:string. To access the typed value, use the function fn:data.

Argument

$value	one of an atomic value, a string or the string value of a node

Examples

• Get a sequence of numeric values as a string value:

  string((1,2,3))

  This query results in a type exception.

  string("(1,2,3)")

  This query returns the string value "(1,2,3)".

• Get a namespace as a string value:

  string(xs:anyURI("http://no%20space%20lost"))

  If URIs contain special characters, they will not be escaped.