src/java.xml/share/classes/javax/xml/xpath/XPath.java

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@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2003, 2005, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2003, 2015, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
  * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
  *
  * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
  * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this

@@ -23,25 +23,24 @@
  * questions.
  */
 
 package javax.xml.xpath;
 
-import org.xml.sax.InputSource;
-import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
 import javax.xml.namespace.NamespaceContext;
+import javax.xml.namespace.QName;
+import org.xml.sax.InputSource;
 
 /**
- * <p><code>XPath</code> provides access to the XPath evaluation environment and expressions.</p>
+ * {@code XPath} provides access to the XPath evaluation environment and expressions.
  *
  * <a name="XPath-evaluation"/>
  * <table border="1" cellpadding="2">
  *   <thead>
  *     <tr>
  *       <th colspan="2">Evaluation of XPath Expressions.</th>
  *     </tr>
  *   </thead>
- *   <tbody>
  *     <tr>
  *       <td>context</td>
  *       <td>
  *         If a request is made to evaluate the expression in the absence
  * of a context item, an empty document node will be used for the context.

@@ -53,21 +52,21 @@
  *      <td>variables</td>
  *      <td>
  *        If the expression contains a variable reference, its value will be found through the {@link XPathVariableResolver}
  *        set with {@link #setXPathVariableResolver(XPathVariableResolver resolver)}.
  *        An {@link XPathExpressionException} is raised if the variable resolver is undefined or
- *        the resolver returns <code>null</code> for the variable.
- *        The value of a variable must be immutable through the course of any single evaluation.</p>
+ *        the resolver returns {@code null} for the variable.
+ *        The value of a variable must be immutable through the course of any single evaluation.
  *      </td>
  *    </tr>
  *    <tr>
  *      <td>functions</td>
  *      <td>
  *        If the expression contains a function reference, the function will be found through the {@link XPathFunctionResolver}
  *        set with {@link #setXPathFunctionResolver(XPathFunctionResolver resolver)}.
  *        An {@link XPathExpressionException} is raised if the function resolver is undefined or
- *        the function resolver returns <code>null</code> for the function.</p>
+ *        the function resolver returns {@code null} for the function.
  *      </td>
  *    </tr>
  *    <tr>
  *      <td>QNames</td>
  *      <td>

@@ -78,21 +77,21 @@
  *    <tr>
  *      <td>result</td>
  *      <td>
  *        This result of evaluating an expression is converted to an instance of the desired return type.
  *        Valid return types are defined in {@link XPathConstants}.
- *        Conversion to the return type follows XPath conversion rules.</p>
+ *        Conversion to the return type follows XPath conversion rules.
  *      </td>
  *    </tr>
  * </table>
  *
  * <p>An XPath object is not thread-safe and not reentrant.
  * In other words, it is the application's responsibility to make
  * sure that one {@link XPath} object is not used from
- * more than one thread at any given time, and while the <code>evaluate</code>
+ * more than one thread at any given time, and while the {@code evaluate}
  * method is invoked, applications may not recursively call
- * the <code>evaluate</code> method.
+ * the {@code evaluate} method.
  * <p>
  *
  * @author  <a href="Norman.Walsh@Sun.com">Norman Walsh</a>
  * @author  <a href="Jeff.Suttor@Sun.com">Jeff Suttor</a>
  * @see <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath">XML Path Language (XPath) Version 1.0</a>

@@ -99,221 +98,400 @@
  * @since 1.5
  */
 public interface XPath {
 
         /**
-         * <p>Reset this <code>XPath</code> to its original configuration.</p>
+     * Reset this {@code XPath} to its original configuration.
          *
-         * <p><code>XPath</code> is reset to the same state as when it was created with
+     * <p>{@code XPath} is reset to the same state as when it was created with
          * {@link XPathFactory#newXPath()}.
-         * <code>reset()</code> is designed to allow the reuse of existing <code>XPath</code>s
-         * thus saving resources associated with the creation of new <code>XPath</code>s.</p>
+     * {@code reset()} is designed to allow the reuse of existing {@code XPath}s
+     * thus saving resources associated with the creation of new {@code XPath}s.
          *
-         * <p>The reset <code>XPath</code> is not guaranteed to have the same {@link XPathFunctionResolver}, {@link XPathVariableResolver}
-         * or {@link NamespaceContext} <code>Object</code>s, e.g. {@link Object#equals(Object obj)}.
-         * It is guaranteed to have a functionally equal <code>XPathFunctionResolver</code>, <code>XPathVariableResolver</code>
-         * and <code>NamespaceContext</code>.</p>
+     * <p>The reset {@code XPath} is not guaranteed to have the same
+     * {@link XPathFunctionResolver}, {@link XPathVariableResolver}
+     * or {@link NamespaceContext} {@code Object}s, e.g. {@link Object#equals(Object obj)}.
+     * It is guaranteed to have a functionally equal {@code XPathFunctionResolver},
+     * {@code XPathVariableResolver} and {@code NamespaceContext}.
          */
         public void reset();
 
     /**
-     * <p>Establish a variable resolver.</p>
+     * Establish a variable resolver.
      *
-     * <p>A <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown if <code>resolver</code> is <code>null</code>.</p>
+     * <p>A {@code NullPointerException} is thrown if {@code resolver} is {@code null}.
      *
      * @param resolver Variable resolver.
      *
-     *  @throws NullPointerException If <code>resolver</code> is <code>null</code>.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code resolver} is {@code null}.
      */
     public void setXPathVariableResolver(XPathVariableResolver resolver);
 
     /**
-       * <p>Return the current variable resolver.</p>
+       * Return the current variable resolver.
        *
-       * <p><code>null</code> is returned in no variable resolver is in effect.</p>
+       * <p>{@code null} is returned in no variable resolver is in effect.
        *
        * @return Current variable resolver.
        */
     public XPathVariableResolver getXPathVariableResolver();
 
     /**
-       * <p>Establish a function resolver.</p>
+       * Establish a function resolver.
        *
-       * <p>A <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown if <code>resolver</code> is <code>null</code>.</p>
+       * <p>A {@code NullPointerException} is thrown if {@code resolver} is {@code null}.
        *
        * @param resolver XPath function resolver.
        *
-       * @throws NullPointerException If <code>resolver</code> is <code>null</code>.
+       * @throws NullPointerException If {@code resolver} is {@code null}.
        */
     public void setXPathFunctionResolver(XPathFunctionResolver resolver);
 
     /**
-       * <p>Return the current function resolver.</p>
+       * Return the current function resolver.
+       * <p>
+       * {@code null} is returned in no function resolver is in effect.
        *
-       * <p><code>null</code> is returned in no function resolver is in effect.</p>
-       *
        * @return Current function resolver.
        */
     public XPathFunctionResolver getXPathFunctionResolver();
 
     /**
-       * <p>Establish a namespace context.</p>
+       * Establish a namespace context.
        *
-       * <p>A <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown if <code>nsContext</code> is <code>null</code>.</p>
+       * <p>A {@code NullPointerException} is thrown if {@code nsContext} is {@code null}.
        *
        * @param nsContext Namespace context to use.
        *
-       * @throws NullPointerException If <code>nsContext</code> is <code>null</code>.
+       * @throws NullPointerException If {@code nsContext} is {@code null}.
        */
     public void setNamespaceContext(NamespaceContext nsContext);
 
     /**
-       * <p>Return the current namespace context.</p>
+       * Return the current namespace context.
        *
-       * <p><code>null</code> is returned in no namespace context is in effect.</p>
+       * <p>{@code null} is returned in no namespace context is in effect.
        *
        * @return Current Namespace context.
        */
     public NamespaceContext getNamespaceContext();
 
     /**
-       * <p>Compile an XPath expression for later evaluation.</p>
+       * Compile an XPath expression for later evaluation.
        *
-       * <p>If <code>expression</code> contains any {@link XPathFunction}s,
+       * <p>If {@code expression} contains any {@link XPathFunction}s,
        * they must be available via the {@link XPathFunctionResolver}.
        * An {@link XPathExpressionException} will be thrown if the
-       * <code>XPathFunction</code>
-       * cannot be resovled with the <code>XPathFunctionResolver</code>.</p>
+       * {@code XPathFunction}
+       * cannot be resovled with the {@code XPathFunctionResolver}.
        *
-       * <p>If <code>expression</code> contains any variables, the
+       * <p>If {@code expression} contains any variables, the
        * {@link XPathVariableResolver} in effect
-       * <strong>at compile time</strong> will be used to resolve them.</p>
+       * <strong>at compile time</strong> will be used to resolve them.
        *
-       * <p>If <code>expression</code> is <code>null</code>, a <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown.</p>
-       *
        * @param expression The XPath expression.
        *
        * @return Compiled XPath expression.
 
-       * @throws XPathExpressionException If <code>expression</code> cannot be compiled.
-       * @throws NullPointerException If <code>expression</code> is <code>null</code>.
+       * @throws XPathExpressionException If {@code expression} cannot be compiled.
+       * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression} is {@code null}.
        */
     public XPathExpression compile(String expression)
         throws XPathExpressionException;
 
     /**
-     * <p>Evaluate an <code>XPath</code> expression in the specified context and return the result as the specified type.</p>
+     * Evaluate an {@code XPath} expression in the specified context and
+     * return the result as the specified type.
      *
-     * <p>See <a href="#XPath-evaluation">Evaluation of XPath Expressions</a> for context item evaluation,
-     * variable, function and <code>QName</code> resolution and return type conversion.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * See <a href="#XPath-evaluation">Evaluation of XPath Expressions</a>
+     * for context item evaluation, variable, function and {@code QName} resolution
+     * and return type conversion.
+     * <p>
+     * The parameter {@code item} represents the context the XPath expression
+     * will be operated on. The type of the context is implementation-dependent.
+     * If the value is {@code null}, the operation must have no dependency on
+     * the context, otherwise an XPathExpressionException will be thrown.
      *
-     * <p>If <code>returnType</code> is not one of the types defined in {@link XPathConstants} (
-     * {@link XPathConstants#NUMBER NUMBER},
-     * {@link XPathConstants#STRING STRING},
-     * {@link XPathConstants#BOOLEAN BOOLEAN},
-     * {@link XPathConstants#NODE NODE} or
-     * {@link XPathConstants#NODESET NODESET})
-     * then an <code>IllegalArgumentException</code> is thrown.</p>
+     * @implNote
+     * The type of the context is usually {@link org.w3c.dom.Node}.
      *
-     * <p>If a <code>null</code> value is provided for
-     * <code>item</code>, an empty document will be used for the
-     * context.
-     * If <code>expression</code> or <code>returnType</code> is <code>null</code>, then a
-     * <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown.</p>
-     *
      * @param expression The XPath expression.
-     * @param item The starting context (a node, for example).
-     * @param returnType The desired return type.
+     * @param item The context the XPath expression will be evaluated in.
+     * @param returnType The result type expected to be returned by the XPath expression.
      *
-     * @return Result of evaluating an XPath expression as an <code>Object</code> of <code>returnType</code>.
+     * @return The result of evaluating an XPath expression as an {@code Object} of {@code returnType}.
      *
-     * @throws XPathExpressionException If <code>expression</code> cannot be evaluated.
-     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If <code>returnType</code> is not one of the types defined in {@link XPathConstants}.
-     * @throws NullPointerException If <code>expression</code> or <code>returnType</code> is <code>null</code>.
+     * @throws XPathExpressionException If {@code expression} cannot be evaluated.
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If {@code returnType} is not one of the types defined in {@link XPathConstants} (
+     * {@link XPathConstants#NUMBER NUMBER},
+     * {@link XPathConstants#STRING STRING},
+     * {@link XPathConstants#BOOLEAN BOOLEAN},
+     * {@link XPathConstants#NODE NODE} or
+     * {@link XPathConstants#NODESET NODESET}).
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression or returnType} is {@code null}.
      */
     public Object evaluate(String expression, Object item, QName returnType)
         throws XPathExpressionException;
 
     /**
-     * <p>Evaluate an XPath expression in the specified context and return the result as a <code>String</code>.</p>
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the specified context and return the result as a {@code String}.
      *
-     * <p>This method calls {@link #evaluate(String expression, Object item, QName returnType)} with a <code>returnType</code> of
-     * {@link XPathConstants#STRING}.</p>
+     * <p>This method calls {@link #evaluate(String expression, Object item, QName returnType)} with a {@code returnType} of
+     * {@link XPathConstants#STRING}.
      *
      * <p>See <a href="#XPath-evaluation">Evaluation of XPath Expressions</a> for context item evaluation,
-     * variable, function and QName resolution and return type conversion.</p>
+     * variable, function and QName resolution and return type conversion.
      *
-     * <p>If a <code>null</code> value is provided for
-     * <code>item</code>, an empty document will be used for the
-     * context.
-     * If <code>expression</code> is <code>null</code>, then a <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * The parameter {@code item} represents the context the XPath expression
+     * will be operated on. The type of the context is implementation-dependent.
+     * If the value is {@code null}, the operation must have no dependency on
+     * the context, otherwise an XPathExpressionException will be thrown.
      *
+     * @implNote
+     * The type of the context is usually {@link org.w3c.dom.Node}.
+     *
      * @param expression The XPath expression.
-     * @param item The starting context (a node, for example).
+     * @param item The context the XPath expression will be evaluated in.
      *
-     * @return The <code>String</code> that is the result of evaluating the expression and
-     *   converting the result to a <code>String</code>.
+     * @return The result of evaluating an XPath expression as a {@code String}.
      *
-     * @throws XPathExpressionException If <code>expression</code> cannot be evaluated.
-     * @throws NullPointerException If <code>expression</code> is <code>null</code>.
+     * @throws XPathExpressionException If {@code expression} cannot be evaluated.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression} is {@code null}.
      */
     public String evaluate(String expression, Object item)
         throws XPathExpressionException;
 
     /**
-     * <p>Evaluate an XPath expression in the context of the specified <code>InputSource</code>
-     * and return the result as the specified type.</p>
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the context of the specified {@code InputSource}
+     * and return the result as the specified type.
      *
      * <p>This method builds a data model for the {@link InputSource} and calls
-     * {@link #evaluate(String expression, Object item, QName returnType)} on the resulting document object.</p>
+     * {@link #evaluate(String expression, Object item, QName returnType)} on the resulting document object.
      *
      * <p>See <a href="#XPath-evaluation">Evaluation of XPath Expressions</a> for context item evaluation,
-     * variable, function and QName resolution and return type conversion.</p>
+     * variable, function and QName resolution and return type conversion.
      *
-     * <p>If <code>returnType</code> is not one of the types defined in {@link XPathConstants},
-     * then an <code>IllegalArgumentException</code> is thrown.</p>
-     *
-     * <p>If <code>expression</code>, <code>source</code> or <code>returnType</code> is <code>null</code>,
-     * then a <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown.</p>
-     *
      * @param expression The XPath expression.
      * @param source The input source of the document to evaluate over.
      * @param returnType The desired return type.
      *
-     * @return The <code>Object</code> that encapsulates the result of evaluating the expression.
+     * @return The {@code Object} that encapsulates the result of evaluating the expression.
      *
      * @throws XPathExpressionException If expression cannot be evaluated.
-     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If <code>returnType</code> is not one of the types defined in {@link XPathConstants}.
-     * @throws NullPointerException If <code>expression</code>, <code>source</code> or <code>returnType</code>
-     *   is <code>null</code>.
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If {@code returnType} is not one of the types defined in {@link XPathConstants}.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression, source or returnType} is {@code null}.
      */
     public Object evaluate(
         String expression,
         InputSource source,
         QName returnType)
         throws XPathExpressionException;
 
     /**
-     * <p>Evaluate an XPath expression in the context of the specified <code>InputSource</code>
-     * and return the result as a <code>String</code>.</p>
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the context of the specified {@code InputSource}
+     * and return the result as a {@code String}.
      *
      * <p>This method calls {@link #evaluate(String expression, InputSource source, QName returnType)} with a
-     * <code>returnType</code> of {@link XPathConstants#STRING}.</p>
+     * {@code returnType} of {@link XPathConstants#STRING}.
      *
      * <p>See <a href="#XPath-evaluation">Evaluation of XPath Expressions</a> for context item evaluation,
-     * variable, function and QName resolution and return type conversion.</p>
+     * variable, function and QName resolution and return type conversion.
      *
-     * <p>If <code>expression</code> or <code>source</code> is <code>null</code>,
-     * then a <code>NullPointerException</code> is thrown.</p>
-     *
      * @param expression The XPath expression.
-     * @param source The <code>InputSource</code> of the document to evaluate over.
+     * @param source The {@code InputSource} of the document to evaluate over.
      *
-     * @return The <code>String</code> that is the result of evaluating the expression and
-     *   converting the result to a <code>String</code>.
+     * @return The {@code String} that is the result of evaluating the expression and
+     *   converting the result to a {@code String}.
      *
      * @throws XPathExpressionException If expression cannot be evaluated.
-     * @throws NullPointerException If <code>expression</code> or <code>source</code> is <code>null</code>.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression or source} is {@code null}.
      */
     public String evaluate(String expression, InputSource source)
         throws XPathExpressionException;
+
+    /**
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the specified context and return
+     * the result with the type specified through the {@code class type}
+     *
+     * <p>
+     * The parameter {@code item} represents the context the XPath expression
+     * will be operated on. The type of the context is implementation-dependent.
+     * If the value is {@code null}, the operation must have no dependency on
+     * the context, otherwise an XPathExpressionException will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @implNote
+     * The type of the context is usually {@link org.w3c.dom.Node}.
+     *
+     * @implSpec
+     * The default implementation in the XPath API is equivalent to:
+     * <pre> {@code
+     *     (T)evaluate(expression, item,
+     *           XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType.getQNameType(type));
+     * }</pre>
+     *
+     * Since the {@code evaluate} method does not support the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type, specifying
+     * XPathEvaluationResult as the type will result in IllegalArgumentException.
+     * Any implementation supporting the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type must override
+     * this method.
+     *
+     * @param <T> The class type that will be returned by the XPath expression.
+     * @param expression The XPath expression.
+     * @param item The context the XPath expression will be evaluated in.
+     * @param type The class type expected to be returned by the XPath expression.
+     *
+     * @return The result of evaluating the expression.
+     *
+     * @throws XPathExpressionException If the expression cannot be evaluated.
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If {@code type} is not of the types
+     * corresponding to the types defined in the {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType},
+     * or XPathEvaluationResult is specified as the type but an implementation supporting the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type is not available.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression or type} is {@code null}.
+     *
+     * @since 1.9
+     */
+    default <T>T evaluateExpression(String expression, Object item, Class<T> type)
+        throws XPathExpressionException {
+        return (T)evaluate(expression, item,
+                XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType.getQNameType(type));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the specified context. This is equivalent to
+     * calling {@link #evaluateExpression(String expression, Object item, Class type)}
+     * with type {@link XPathEvaluationResult}:
+     * <pre> {@code
+     *     evaluateExpression(expression, item, XPathEvaluationResult.class);
+     * }</pre>
+     * <p>
+     * The parameter {@code item} represents the context the XPath expression
+     * will be operated on. The type of the context is implementation-dependent.
+     * If the value is {@code null}, the operation must have no dependency on
+     * the context, otherwise an XPathExpressionException will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @implNote
+     * The type of the context is usually {@link org.w3c.dom.Node}.
+     *
+     * @implSpec
+     * The default implementation in the XPath API is equivalent to:
+     * <pre> {@code
+     *     evaluateExpression(expression, item, XPathEvaluationResult.class);
+     * }</pre>
+     *
+     * Since the {@code evaluate} method does not support the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY}
+     * type, the default implementation of this method will always throw an
+     * IllegalArgumentException. Any implementation supporting the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type must therefore
+     * override this method.
+     *
+     * @param expression The XPath expression.
+     * @param item The context the XPath expression will be evaluated in.
+     *
+     * @return The result of evaluating the expression.
+     *
+     * @throws XPathExpressionException If the expression cannot be evaluated.
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If the implementation of this method
+     * does not support the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression} is {@code null}.
+     *
+     * @since 1.9
+     */
+    default XPathEvaluationResult<?> evaluateExpression(String expression, Object item)
+        throws XPathExpressionException
+    {
+        return evaluateExpression(expression, item, XPathEvaluationResult.class);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the context of the specified {@code source}
+     * and return the result as specified.
+     * <p>
+     * This method builds a data model for the {@link InputSource} and calls
+     * {@link #evaluateExpression(String expression, Object item, Class type)}
+     * on the resulting document object. The data model is usually
+     * {@link org.w3c.dom.Document}
+     *
+     * @implSpec
+     * The default implementation in the XPath API is equivalent to:
+     * <pre> {@code
+           (T)evaluate(expression, source,
+                XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType.getQNameType(type));
+     * }</pre>
+     *
+     * Since the {@code evaluate} method does not support the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type, specifying
+     * XPathEvaluationResult as the type will result in IllegalArgumentException.
+     * Any implementation supporting the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type must override
+     * this method.
+     *
+     * @param <T> The class type that will be returned by the XPath expression.
+     * @param expression The XPath expression.
+     * @param source The input source of the document to evaluate over.
+     * @param type The class type expected to be returned by the XPath expression.
+     *
+     * @return The result of evaluating the expression.
+     *
+     * @throws XPathExpressionException If the expression cannot be evaluated.
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If {@code type} is not of the types
+     * corresponding to the types defined in the {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType
+     * XPathResultType}, or XPathEvaluationResult is specified as the type but an
+     * implementation supporting the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type is not available.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression, source or type}is {@code null}.
+     *
+     * @since 1.9
+     */
+    default <T>T evaluateExpression(String expression, InputSource source, Class<T> type)
+        throws XPathExpressionException
+    {
+        return (T)evaluate(expression, source,
+                XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType.getQNameType(type));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Evaluate an XPath expression in the specified context. This is equivalent to
+     * calling {@link #evaluateExpression(String expression, Object item, Class type)}
+     * with type {@link XPathEvaluationResult}:
+     * <pre> {@code
+     *     evaluateExpression(expression, item, XPathEvaluationResult.class);
+     * }</pre>
+     * <p>
+     *
+     * @implSpec
+     * The default implementation in the XPath API is equivalent to:
+     * <pre> {@code
+     *     evaluateExpression(expression, source, XPathEvaluationResult.class);
+     * }</pre>
+     *
+     * Since the {@code evaluate} method does not support the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY}
+     * type, the default implementation of this method will always throw an
+     * IllegalArgumentException. Any implementation supporting the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type must therefore
+     * override this method.
+     *
+     * @param expression The XPath expression.
+     * @param source The input source of the document to evaluate over.
+     *
+     * @return The result of evaluating the expression.
+     *
+     * @throws XPathExpressionException If the expression cannot be evaluated.
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If the implementation of this method
+     * does not support the
+     * {@link XPathEvaluationResult.XPathResultType#ANY ANY} type.
+     * @throws NullPointerException If {@code expression or source} is {@code null}.
+     *
+     * @since 1.9
+     */
+    default XPathEvaluationResult<?> evaluateExpression(String expression, InputSource source)
+        throws XPathExpressionException
+    {
+        return evaluateExpression(expression, source, XPathEvaluationResult.class);
+    }
 }