CSS Selectors vs XPath: Which is More Efficient?

What are the performance differences between CSS selectors and XPath?

CSS selectors are generally faster than XPath because they are optimized for speed in browsers. XPath can be more powerful for complex queries but may be slower.

In what scenarios would I prefer using XPath over CSS selectors?

You might prefer XPath when you need to navigate through XML documents or when you require more complex queries, like selecting nodes based on their relationships.

Are there any specific performance benchmarks comparing the two?

Yes, various benchmarks show that CSS selectors outperform XPath in most cases, especially in modern browsers. However, the exact performance can depend on the complexity of the query and the structure of the document.

Can you give examples of when CSS selectors are more efficient?

CSS selectors are more efficient for simple element selections, like selecting all <div> elements or applying styles based on classes or IDs.