dbxml:node-to-handle($node as node()) as xs:string

dbxml:handle-to-node() will return the node from the specified container as referenced by the handle. If the specified container does not exist or cannot be opened an error is raised. An error is raised if the handle is invalid or the node specified does not exist.

dbxml:node-to-handle() will return an opaque node "handle" for the given node. The string returned is base-64 encoded raw data, and is suitable for embedding in a URI. The handle can be used to retrieve the node at a later time, if the node is still present in its container, using dbxml:handle-to-node().