XOM API for Processing XML with Java

[Michael Kay <mike AT saxonica.com>]

>Stating that I don't understand how namespaces fit into xpath queries 
is not really a help, that's obvious.

I thought it would help point you to the right place in the 
FAQ/documentation.
> So to help me out here, it was my impression that tags within an xml
> document
> that are not preceeded by<something:  do not have namespaces applied, is
> this
> incorrect?
No. If an element name contains no colon, it takes on the default 
namespace, which is the one introduced by xmlns="...." on that or the 
nearest ancestor element that has such a declaration.

>   If so, then I assume there is some default namespace that
> applies to
> all tags when one is not specified?  If it's too much to explain this to me,
> then
> could I get a link that would clarify?
Look for the namespaces chapter in the introduction of any basic XML 
book, or google for "Namespaces tutorial".
> Or if its not too difficult, can I get a simple example of using the query
> method
> with xpath to drill into a document when namespaces are involved?
Yes, it's not too difficult, just google for "XPath default namespace FAQ".

Michael Kay
Saxonica