The approaches described herein provide an efficient way for a database server to support storage and retrieval for any of a growing number of semi-structured data formats. In one embodiment, a set of generic semi-structured data operators are provided that enable users to query, update, and validate data stored in any of a number of semi-structured data formats. In this context, a “generic” semi-structured data operator means a data operator that may be configured to operate on any number of different semi-structured data formats. For example, according to one embodiment, the same set of generic semi-structured data operators may be used to operate on data stored according to the XML, JSON, or any number of other semi-structured data formats.