# nodes(forXPath:) Returns the nodes resulting from executing an XPath query upon the receiver. ``` func nodes(forXPath xpath: String) throws -> [XMLNode] ``` ## Parameters `xpath` A string that expresses an XPath query. ## Return Value An array of `NSXMLNode` objects that match the query, or an empty array if there are no matches. ## Discussion The receiver acts as the context item for the query (”.”). If you have explicitly added adjacent text nodes as children of an element, you should invoke the `NSXMLElement` method [`normalizeAdjacentTextNodesPreservingCDATA(_:)`](/documentation/Foundation/XMLElement/normalizeAdjacentTextNodesPreservingCDATA(_:)) (with an argument of ) on the element before applying any XPath queries to it; this method coalesces these text nodes. The same precaution applies if you have processed a document preserving CDATA sections and these sections are adjacent to text nodes. > Handling Errors in Swift: > In Swift, this method returns a nonoptional result and is marked with the `throws` keyword to indicate that it throws an error in cases of failure. > > You call this method in a `try` expression and handle any errors in the `catch` clauses of a `do` statement, as described in [Error Handling](https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/LanguageGuide/ErrorHandling.html) in [The Swift Programming Language](https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/) and `About Imported Cocoa Error Parameters`. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)