ELEMENT:  xsl:text
<xsl:text
  disable-output-escaping="yes" | "no"
>
</xsl:text>
 
The xsl:text element is used to add literal text to the output. This element cannot contain any other XSL elements. It can only contain text.
 
Normally, any text that occurs in a stylesheet will be copied to the output regardless if it is enclosed by an xsl:text element. However, there are two primary reasons for using the xsl:text element:
 
  • The first is to control white-space. Extra white-space is preserved by using this element. In other words, a text will be displayed as it really is without any extra white-spaces being removed.

    •  
  • The second is to handle special characters such as an ampersand (&) or a greater-than sign (>). For example, you may wish a &gt; to be displayed as a >. This is referred to as controlling output escaping.

    •  
    This is not a self-closing element. The separate closing element is mandatory.
     
    disable-output-escaping="yes" | "no"
     
    The optional disable-output-escaping attribute turns on or off the ability to escape special characters. If set to no, a &gt; will appear as a &gt; in the text. If set to yes, a &gt; will appear as a >. (This attribute should be used with care. Remember that XML requires a well-formed code in that all tags or elements must be closed. If set to yes, you could accidentally create a non-well-formed document.)
     
    We use the DevGuru Staff List XML file for our example with the following header:
    <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="xslt_example_text.xsl"?>
     and we name it: xslt_example_text.xml
     
    Code for xslt_example_text.xsl:
     
    <?xml version="1.0"?>
    <xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version="1.0">
    <xsl:output method="html" />
    <xsl:template match="/">
    <html>
    <body>
    <xsl:text>The DevGuru Staff Members are < /xsl:text>
    <xsl:for-each select="devguru_staff/programmer">
    <xsl:value-of select="name" />
    <xsl:if test="position()!=last()">
    <xsl:text>, </xsl:text>
    </xsl:if>
    <xsl:if test="position()=last()-1">
    <xsl:text> and </xsl:text>
    </xsl:if>
    <xsl:if test="position()=last()">
    <xsl:text>!</xsl:text>
    </xsl:if>
    </xsl:for-each>
    </body>
    </html>
    </xsl:template>
    </xsl:stylesheet>
     
    Output:
     
    Click to view output in separate window - requires Internet Explorer
     
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