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EquiX is a search language for XML that combines the power of querying with the simplicity of searching. Requirements for such languages are discussed, and it is shown that EquiX meets the necessary criteria. Both a graph‐based abstract syntax and a formal concrete syntax are presented for EquiX queries. In addition, the semantics is defined and an evaluation algorithm is presented. The evaluation algorithm is polynomial under combined complexity. EquiX combines pattern matching, quantification, and logical expressions to query both the data and meta‐data of XML documents. The result of a query in EquiX is a set of XML documents. A DTD describing the result documents is derived automatically from the query.