# XSLT

> language for transforming XML documents

**Wikidata**: [Q32110](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q32110)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XSLT)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/xslt

## Summary

XSLT is a software application whose design was influenced by the Document Style Semantics and Specification Language.

## Summary
XSLT is a declarative programming language designed for transforming XML documents into other formats such as HTML, XHTML, or different XML structures. Created by the World Wide Web Consortium in 1999, it enables users to convert XML data without altering the original source document.

## Key Facts
- XSLT stands for Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations and was created by the World Wide Web Consortium in 1999.
- It is a declarative programming language that operates as part of the XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) standard.
- XSLT uses the XML namespace http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform and is based entirely on XML.
- The language has two major versions: XSLT 1.0 (released 1999) and XSLT 2.0 (released 2007), with official specifications available at the W3C website.
- XSLT files typically use .xsl or .xslt file extensions and have media types of application/xslt+xml or text/xsl.
- It functions as a W3C Recommendation since November 16, 1999, and is classified as an XML transformation language.
- XSLT was influenced by the Document Style Semantics and Specification Language and enables the transformation of XML documents into various output formats.
- The language has an active presence on developer platforms including Stack Overflow (with a dedicated tag), GitHub, and the Mozilla Developer Network.

## FAQs
### Q: What is XSLT used for?
A: XSLT is used for transforming XML documents into other formats such as HTML, XHTML, plain text, or other XML structures. It enables users to restructure, filter, sort, and format XML data without changing the source document itself.

### Q: How does XSLT relate to CSS?
A: While both are stylesheet languages, XSLT is more powerful as it can completely transform the structure of XML documents, whereas CSS is primarily used for styling and presentation of HTML or XML elements. XSLT operates at the document structure level, while CSS operates at the presentation level.

### Q: Is XSLT still relevant today?
A: Yes, XSLT remains relevant for XML processing tasks, particularly in enterprise systems, data integration, and scenarios requiring complex document transformations. It continues to be maintained by the W3C with active development and widespread support in modern development environments.

### Q: Who created XSLT?
A: XSLT was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as part of their XML processing recommendations. It was created in response to the need for standardized methods to transform XML documents.

## Why It Matters
XSLT played a crucial role in the evolution of XML processing by providing a standardized, platform-independent method for transforming XML documents. Before XSLT, XML transformations often required complex custom programming, making XML processing difficult and inconsistent across different systems. XSLT simplified this process with a declarative approach, allowing developers to specify what transformations they wanted rather than how to implement them. This standardization enabled better interoperability between XML-based systems and facilitated the exchange of structured data across different platforms and applications. XSLT remains an essential tool in data processing pipelines, content management systems, and enterprise integration scenarios where XML transformation is required.

## Notable For
- XSLT is one of the foundational standards for XML processing, established as a W3C Recommendation on November 16, 1999, making it an official web technology specification.
- It is the only major XML transformation language to be endorsed by the World Wide Web Consortium, establishing it as the de facto standard for XML transformations.
- XSLT pioneered the concept of declarative XML processing, allowing developers to specify transformations without needing to write complex procedural code.
- The language supports a wide range of output formats, including HTML, XHTML, plain text, and other XML structures, making it extremely versatile in content transformation scenarios.
- XSLT has maintained compatibility across multiple versions (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0) while progressively adding features, demonstrating exceptional longevity in the rapidly evolving field of web technologies.

## Body
### Overview
XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) is a declarative programming language designed specifically for transforming XML documents. Created by the World Wide Web Consortium in 1999, it serves as the official standard for converting XML data into various output formats.

### Technical Specifications
- XSLT operates as a subset of XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language)
- It uses the XML namespace http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform
- The language supports two primary file extensions: .xsl and .xslt
- Media types are registered as application/xslt+xml and text/xsl
- It has been maintained as a W3C Recommendation since November 16, 1999

### Versions and Evolution
- XSLT 1.0 was the first official version, released in 1999
- XSLT 2.0 followed in 2007, adding significant enhancements
- The official specifications are available at the W3C website:
  - http://www.w3.org/TR/xslt for version 1.0
  - http://www.w3.org/TR/xslt20/ for version 2.0
- The language continues to be maintained and updated by the W3C

### Classification
XSLT is classified as:
- A declarative programming language
- An XML transformation language
- A W3C Recommendation
- A research tool
- An XML-based format

### Influence and Related Technologies
- Influenced by the Document Style Semantics and Specification Language
- Based entirely on XML
- Part of the larger XSL standard
- Related to other XML processing technologies and standards

### Documentation and Community
- Documentation available on the Mozilla Developer Network (Glossary/XSLT, Web/XSLT)
- Active presence on Stack Overflow with a dedicated tag
- GitHub topic exists for the language
- Translated into multiple Wikipedia languages including English, German, Spanish, and others

### Practical Applications
- XML document restructuring
- Data extraction and formatting
- Content management systems
- Enterprise data integration
- Cross-platform data exchange

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "XSLT",
  "description": "A declarative programming language for transforming XML documents",
  "url": "https://www.w3.org/TR/xslt",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1194802",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XSLT"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "XML transformation language",
    "declarative programming language",
    "programming language"
  ],
  "creator": "World Wide Web Consortium",
  "dateCreated": "1999",
  "fileFormat": [
    "application/xslt+xml",
    "text/xsl"
  ],
  "keywords": "XML transformation, Extensible Stylesheet Language, W3C standard"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://www.w3.org/TR/xslt20/#xslt-mime-definition)
4. [[MS-XSLT]: Microsoft XSLTransformations (XSLT) Standards Support Document. 2019](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/ie_standards/ms-xslt/51a13b8a-84e8-40c7-afe9-6dfc634b551a)
5. [XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 2.0. 2007](https://www.w3.org/TR/2007/REC-xslt20-20070123/#media-type-registration)
6. Quora
7. [XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 3.0. 2017](https://www.w3.org/TR/xslt-30/#xslt-namespace)
8. FactGrid
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
10. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)