FHIRPath: Unexpected Token

The FHIRPath parser reached a token it cannot place in a valid expression. The expression is syntactically malformed at that point.

FHIRPath · Error

The error

Validation message
Unexpected token
Check this in the FHIRPath Playground

Why it happens

A dangling operator, a stray symbol, a missing operand, or mixing FHIRPath with another query syntax (XPath, JSONPath). For example name. with nothing after the dot.

How to fix it

Complete the expression so every operator has its operands and every path step has an identifier. Remove stray characters. Build the path one step at a time to find the offending token.

Example

The snippet below triggers the error:

FHIRPath — triggers the error
Patient.name.

The corrected version:

FHIRPath — passes validation
Patient.name.given
Validate your own in the FHIRPath Playground

Frequently asked questions

Is FHIRPath the same as XPath or JSONPath?

No. FHIRPath has its own grammar. Borrowing XPath axes (//) or JSONPath syntax ($.) produces unexpected-token errors. Use dotted path navigation and FHIRPath functions instead.

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