Re: [xml-dev] The purpose of a namespace URI is ...

[Jim Melton <jim.melton@oracle.com>]

Roger,

I'm going to respond in a manner rather different from the others who 
answered your query.  Note that I do not necessarily disagree with 
the other responders, but I think taking a step back from the XML 
context will be helpful.

* A "namespace" is a collection of names, either explicitly (e.g., a 
list of names in a specific context) or implicitly (an unenumerated 
collection of possible names for use in a specific context).

* A "namespace identifier" (or "namespace name") is a name that 
identifies a namespace.

* A "namespace URI" is a particular kind of name (structured using 
the rules of RFC 3986, Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): Generic 
Syntax) that identifies a namespace.

And that's all there is to it.

In the context of XML, the document entitled "Namespaces in XML 1.0", 
a resource found on the WWW using the Universal Resource Identifier 
(URI) http://www.w3.org/TR/xml-names, defines the use of namespaces 
and namespace identifiers in the context of XML.

XQuery supports the use of namespaces in the XML that queries might 
consume or produce.  XSLT does that, and it also uses namespaces in 
its own language, which uses an XML syntax.  XQueryX does the same.

However, XQuery also uses namespaces for other purposes, such as 
partitioning the universe of names into several spaces used for 
different purposes, such as one for errors, another for modules, 
another for serialization options, etc.

Hope this helps,
    Jim


At 11/30/2012 05:35 AM, Costello, Roger L. wrote:
>Hi Folks,
>
>     A namespace URI conventionally identifies
>     the component, subsystem, or authority
>     responsible for defining the meaning of
>     an XML vocabulary.
>
>Do you agree?
>
>/Roger
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>
>XML-DEV is a publicly archived, unmoderated list hosted by OASIS
>to support XML implementation and development. To minimize
>spam in the archives, you must subscribe before posting.
>
>[Un]Subscribe/change address: http://www.oasis-open.org/mlmanage/
>Or unsubscribe: xml-dev-unsubscribe@lists.xml.org
>subscribe: xml-dev-subscribe@lists.xml.org
>List archive: http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
>List Guidelines: http://www.oasis-open.org/maillists/guidelines.php

========================================================================
Jim Melton --- Editor of ISO/IEC 9075-* (SQL)     Phone: +1.801.942.0144
   Chair, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC32 and W3C XML Query WG    Fax : +1.801.942.3345
Oracle Corporation        Oracle Email: jim dot melton at oracle dot com
1930 Viscounti Drive      Alternate email: jim dot melton at acm dot org
Sandy, UT 84093-1063 USA  Personal email: SheltieJim at xmission dot com
========================================================================
=  Facts are facts.   But any opinions expressed are the opinions      =
=  only of myself and may or may not reflect the opinions of anybody   =
=  else with whom I may or may not have discussed the issues at hand.  =
========================================================================