From: Trans <transfire@...>
Date: 2007-11-27T01:37:59+09:00
Subject: How to map XML attributes

I'm working on a DSL that maps XML <=> Object, and I'm stuck on where
to store tag attributes. Do attributes belong to the tag or to the
content?

For example:

  <foo>
    <bar xmlns="http://..." type="html">
       HTML Content
    </bar>
  </foo>

In mapping this to an object, lets say:

  foo.bar  #=> "HTML Content"

Does is make sense to ask:

  foo.bar.attributes  #=> { 'xmlns'=>..., 'type'=>... }

or should the attributes be tied to the "attributation" of foo, so:

  foo.attributes(:bar)  #=> { 'xmlns'=>..., 'type'=>... }

The 'type' attribute makes me think the first makes the most sense,
but the 'xmlns' makes me think the later.

Any insights?

Thanks,
T.