Techniques are provided for indexing XML documents. According to one embodiment, a PATH table created for storing one row for each indexed node of the XML documents. The PATH table row for a node includes (1) information for locating the XML document that contains the node, (2) information that identifies the path of the node, and (3) information that identifies the position of the node within the hierarchical structure of the XML document that contains the node. If the node is associated with the value, then the PATH table row for the node may also include the value. Use of the PATH table to answer XPath queries is facilitated by secondary indexes.