The result of the name() function is the expanded name which consists
   of a local-part and the namespace URI. Thus two XML documents that are
   equivalent except for their choice of namespace prefixes will give 
   same answers if the prefixes point to the same namespace URI.

   Juliane.


No, name() gives the literal prefixed name from the source.

so if the input is


<x xmlns="1">
<a:x xmlns:a="1"/>
<b:x xmlns:b="1"/>
</x>


then all three elements would be the same to self:: but
using name()

<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
                version="1.0"
                >

<xsl:template match="*">
 [<xsl:value-of select="name(.)"/>]
 <xsl:apply-templates/>
</xsl:template>

</xsl:stylesheet>

gives you

 [x]
 [a:x]
 [b:x]
 


David


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