What's so bad about xsl:for-each?

Question

I hear time and time again about how you should avoid the use of XSLT for-each. That it\'s your inner imperative programming demon that should be banished.

What\'s

Answer 1

By using apply-templates, perhaps with a mode, makes it easier to include appropriate transformations of more kinds of elements that may be of interest at that location.

For example if you had XML containing a libraries contents, and you keep using for-each all over the place to select books, then you start keeping record of DVDs, CDs, Ginger Nut biscuits, etc, you will have to examine all the for-each sections to include more than just books. If you had used apply-templates, you may be able to simply create the new matches for the new elements.