Techniques are provided for changing data for an XML construct in an SQL/XML compliant database management system (DBMS). The DBMS allows instances of XML type to represent XML constructs, such as XML documents, XML elements, XML attributes, and fragments of XML documents. An SQL statement is received that includes an XML operator that operates on a particular component in an instance of XML type. During execution of the SQL statement, the XML operator is evaluated by modifying content for the component without modifying the entire instance. For example, an XML delete operator deletes the particular component from the instance. Other XML operators include an insert operator, an insert-before operator, an append-child operator, and an update operator. During execution, these operators may be rewritten to operate on existing SQL constructs, or evaluated by updating only some of the existing SQL constructs, or both.