Article:		Converting Between XML and JSON
Subject:		#text should always work
Date:		2006-05-31 15:49:30
From:		bkc
I suggest that even for the simple element text case, e["#text"] should also always work. This way, references to the element's text will work whether there are attributes or not on that element. Programmers who are certain their xml data will *always* have a known format can choose to use the less verbose e.text reference. Also, an element named 'text' should take precedence over the text content of a mixed-mode element. That is, e["#text"] would reference the text part, and e.text would reference the child element named 'text'.

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• #text should always work
  2006-06-14 04:18:08 stefan@goessner.net
  
  This is a good point. Unfortunately we cannot have both 'e' *and* 'e["#text"]' resulting in the same textual content.

  
  I agree, that having always to use 'e["#text"]' for accessing an element's text generally is more consistent.

  
  Frequently programmers know their xml/json structure and want to use the less verbose 'e' form, which is what you also mentioned.

  
  A possible solution might be to let the user control behaviour by an additional configuration parameter.

  
  Please note however, that there is only an 'e.text' when element 'e' has a child element 'text'.