XPointer advantages
Syntax fits powerful addressing into tiny strings
- Needs to fit into URIs as a fragment identifier, so it’s impractical to use XML syntax itself
Robust against change
- If you describe paths, any change “off the path” doesn’t break the link
- It’s still safest to point using IDs if you can
- If there’s an ID nearby, point to it and walk down/up
- If not, walk down from the root