---
title: XSLT transformations
url: https://docs.triply.cc/triply-etl/transform/xslt/
description: Transform XML source data with an XSLT stylesheet before it reaches the rest of the pipeline.
---

# XSLT transformations

XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) is a language used to transform and manipulate XML data. With XSLT, you have the capability to create rules and transformations that convert data documents into different formats or structures.



## Example

Here's an example of an XML file, an XSLT stylesheet, and the resulting output in RDF format after applying the XSLT transformation. In this example, we'll transform a simple XML representation of books into RDF triples.


### Input XML file (books.xml)

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<library>
  <book>
    <title>The Great Gatsby</title>
    <author>F. Scott Fitzgerald</author>
  </book>
  <book>
    <title>1984</title>
    <author>George Orwell</author>
  </book>
</library>
```


### XSLT Stylesheet (books-to-rdf.xsl)

```xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
  <xsl:template match="/">
    <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
      <xsl:for-each select="library/book">
        <rdf:Description>
          <rdf:type rdf:resource="http://example.org/book" />
          <rdf:Description>
            <rdf:type rdf:resource="http://example.org/author" />
            <rdf:value>
              <xsl:value-of select="author" />
            </rdf:value>
          </rdf:Description>
          <rdf:title>
            <xsl:value-of select="title" />
          </rdf:title>
        </rdf:Description>
      </xsl:for-each>
    </rdf:RDF>
  </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
```


### Output RDF (result.rdf) after applying XSLT

```xml
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
  <rdf:Description>
    <rdf:type rdf:resource="http://example.org/book" />
    <rdf:Description>
      <rdf:type rdf:resource="http://example.org/author" />
      <rdf:value>F. Scott Fitzgerald</rdf:value>
    </rdf:Description>
    <rdf:title>The Great Gatsby</rdf:title>
  </rdf:Description>
  <rdf:Description>
    <rdf:type rdf:resource="http://example.org/book" />
    <rdf:Description>
      <rdf:type rdf:resource="http://example.org/author" />
      <rdf:value>George Orwell</rdf:value>
    </rdf:Description>
    <rdf:title>1984</rdf:title>
  </rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
```



## Using XSLT in TriplyETL

In TriplyETL, XSLT processing is supported in the [`fromXML()`](https://docs.triply.cc/triply-etl/extract/xml/) and [`loadRdf()`](https://docs.triply.cc/triply-etl/extract/rdf/) middlewares by providing an optional `Source.file()` to the stylesheet parameter that uses an XSL-XML Stylesheet. Below we will explain in steps how it can be used:

1\. Create your XSLT stylesheet:

First, you need to create an XSLT stylesheet. This stylesheet defines the rules for transforming your XML data. It should have a .xslt or .xsl file extension. You can create this stylesheet using any text editor or XML/XSLT development tool.

2\. Load the data and apply XSLT transformation using either [`fromXml()`](https://docs.triply.cc/triply-etl/extract/xml/) or [`loadRdf()`](https://docs.triply.cc/triply-etl/extract/rdf/):

- `fromXml()` is used to load and transform xml to xml with different structure:

```ts
fromXml(Source.file(xml), {
  selectors: 'rdf:RDF.sdo:Person',
  stylesheet: Source.file(stylesheet),
})
```

- `loadRdf()` is used to load and transform xml to xml/rdf to internal store:

```ts
loadRdf(Source.file(xml), {
  contentType: 'application/rdf+xml',
  stylesheet: Source.file(xsl),
}),
```