Class Path
Provides an object path navigation class to return the value for the given expression. This class will automatically select the appropriate path navigation library for the given source object which may be JSON text, XML text, XML document or Java POJO (Plain Old Java Object).
Path Sources
The supported Path
sources can be constructed by JSON text, XML text, XML document or Java POJO.
Expressions
Here is a complete overview and a side by side comparison of the JSONPath syntax elements with its XPath counterparts.
XPath | JSONPath | Description |
---|---|---|
/ | $ | the root object/element |
. | @ | the current object/element |
/ | . or [] | child operator |
.. | n/a | parent operator |
// | .. | recursive descent. JSONPath borrows this syntax from E4X. |
* | * | wildcard. All objects/elements regardless their names. |
@ | n/a | attribute access. JSON structures don't have attributes. |
[] | [] | subscript operator. XPath uses it to iterate over element collections and for predicates. In Javascript and JSON it is the native array operator. |
| | [,] | Union operator in XPath results in a combination of node sets. JSONPath allows alternate names or array indices as a set. |
n/a | [start:end:step] | array slice operator borrowed from ES4. |
[] | ?() | applies a filter (script) expression. |
n/a | () | script expression, using the underlying script engine. |
() | n/a | grouping in Xpath |
JSON Sources
With JSON sources the expression language used is JSONPath. When using the val(exp)
method this
class will return the text content value for the first selected node, or null if no node was found.
The expression operators include $(root node of the structure), @ (current node that is being processed,
e.g. "user[?(@.firstName==John)]") and * (wildcard indicating all elements in scope, e.g. user[*]).
See JayWay JSONPath Library Guide for more documentation.
Object Sources
With Object sources the expression language used is "property names", e.g. "user.firstName". When using the val(exp)
method this
class will return the text content value for the first selected node, or null if no node was found.
XML Sources
Note that the implementation is namespace aware but ignores default namespace's override.
Examples
JSON Examples
This Groovy example creates Path from JSON string, and then reads out a value from path.
import com.avoka.tm.util.Path String json = '''{ "address": { "line1": "1 Street", "postCode": 2000 } }''' Path path = new Path(json) def line1 = path.val('address.line1') def postCode = path.val('$.[\'address\'].[\'postCode\']')Note you have the full power of JSON Path so you can perform like:
def addressNodeFiltered = path.val("address[?(@.postCode == 2000)]") def allAddressChildrenValuesList = path.val("address[*]")
Java Object Examples
This Groovy example creates Path from Object, and then reads out a value from path.
import com.avoka.tm.util.Path User user = new User() user.setFirstName("George") ContactDetails cd = new ContactDetails() cd.setEmail("[email protected]") user.setContactDetails(cd) Address address = new Address() address.setCity("Sydney") address.setPostCode(2153) user.getAddressList().add(address) Path path = new Path(user) def userFirstName = path.val("firstName") def userEmail = path.val("contactDetails.email") def postCode = path.val("addressList[0].postCode")
XML Examples
This Groovy example creates Path from XML string, and then reads out a value from path.
import com.avoka.tm.util.Path // source - XML text String formXml = '''<AvokaSmartForm> <YourDetails> <FirstName> ... </FirstName> <LastName> ... </LastName> <Email> ... </Email> </YourDetails> </AvokaSmartForm>''' Path path = new Path(formXml) def userFirstName = path.val("//FirstName") def userEmail = path.val("/AvokaSmartForm/YourDetails/Email") // schemaSeed - XML Document source Path path2 = new Path(schemaSeed) def userEmail = path2.val("//Email")Note you have the full power of XQuery so you can perform XQuerys like:
def countryList = path.val("//root/country[@value='USA']")
The Path class also provides a nodes()
method which will return a typed List of XML Nodes
which can be iterated over. In contrast the Path val()
method will return the text content of the
first selected XML Node.
import com.avoka.tm.util.Path import org.w3c.dom.Node def xml = '''<bar> <drink type="Beer"> 4 Pines </drink> <drink type="Beer"> Coopers </drink> <drink type="Wine"> Cab Sav </drink> </bar>''' // Select first value Path path = new Path(xml) def firstDrink = path.val('//drink') println 'firstDrink value: ' + firstDrink + ', type: ' + firstDrink.class.simpleName // Select node list List<Node> drinks = path.nodes('//drink') for (drink in drinks) { println 'textContent: ' + drink.textContent + ', type: ' + drink.class.simpleName + ', toString: ' + drink }
Script output results:
firstDrink value: 4 Pines, type: String textContent: 4 Pines, type: DeferredElementImpl, toString: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <drink type="Beer">4 Pines</drink> textContent: Coopers, type: DeferredElementImpl, toString: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <drink type="Beer">Coopers</drink> textContent: Cab Sav, type: DeferredElementImpl, toString: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <drink type="Wine">Cab Sav</drink>
- Since:
- 5.0.0
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Constructor Summary
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Method Summary
Modifier and TypeMethodDescriptionReturn the first path object for the given expression, or null if not resolved.Return the list of XML Node values for the given expression.Return the list of paths for the given expression.Return the value for the given expression.Return the list of values for the given expression.
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Constructor Details
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Path
Create a path evaluation object with the given source.- Parameters:
source
- the source
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Method Details
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val
Return the value for the given expression.
With XML sources the expression language used is XPath. When using the
val(exp)
method this class will return the text content value for the first selected node, or null if no node was found.- Parameters:
path
- the path expression to evaluate (required)- Returns:
- value for the path expression, otherwise
null
if path is invalid or can not be found.
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vals
Return the list of values for the given expression.
With an XML source the expression language used is XPath. When using the
vals(exp)
method this class will return the text content value for the list of selected nodes, or an empty list if not found.- Parameters:
path
- the path expression to evaluate (required)- Returns:
- the list of values for the given expression, otherwise empty
List
if can not be found.
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nodes
Return the list of XML Node values for the given expression.
This method will throw an UnsupportedOperationException if the Path source is not an XML source.
- Parameters:
path
- the path expression to evaluate (required)- Returns:
- the list of DOM Node values for the given the path expression
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paths
Return the list of paths for the given expression.
- Parameters:
path
- the path expression to evaluate (required)- Returns:
- the list of values for the given expression.
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firstPath
Return the first path object for the given expression, or null if not resolved.
- Parameters:
path
- the path expression to evaluate (required)- Returns:
- the first path object for the given expression, or null if not resolved.
- Since:
- 18.11.0
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