XML Namespaces and Unprefixed Attributes
xml, xml-namespaces
Solution
An attribute without prefix is always in the empty name space, i.e. it has no name space. It is doesn't matter whether the enclosing element has a name space or not. That's my reading of the second statement you refer to, and that is the interpretation of all the XML tools I've used.
Problem
The specification of XML Namespaces explains that the interpretation of unprefixed attributes is determined by the element on which they appear. And that the namespace name for an unprefixed attribute name always has no value: The namespace name for an unprefixed attribute name always has no value. How does this rule apply to the namespace of the attribute `jid` in the following cases. ``` <query xmlns="jabber:iq:roster"> <item jid="romeo@example.com"></item> </query> ``` If the declaration of the namespace and the attribute in question both don't have an prefix, the attribute `jid` is in the namespace `jabber:iq:roster`. ``` <q:query xmlns:q="jabber:iq:roster"> <q:item q:jid="romeo@example.com"></q:item> </q:query> ``` If both, the declaration of the namespace and the attribute have the same prefix, the attribute `jid`also has the namespace `jabber:iq:roster`: ``` <q:query xmlns:q="jabber:iq:roster"> <q:item jid="romeo@example.com"></q:item> </q:query> ``` But in which namespace is the attribute if the namespace is declared with an prefix but the attribute doesn't have a prefix? I would assume, that the attribute `jid` has the default namespace declared in a parent element, ``` <parent xmlns="http://example.com"> <q:query xmlns:q="jabber:iq:roster"> <q:item jid="romeo@example.com"></q:item> </q:query> </parent> ``` or no namespace, if there isn't such a declaration. Do I get this right?