Abstract: A query (e.g., an extensible markup language (XML) Path or XPath query) for one or more components of a document (e.g., XML document) may be received. A forward axis graph including a plurality of nodes with edges connecting the nodes may be generated based on the query and corresponding to a traversal of the document as associated with events (e.g., XML SAX events) corresponding to the document. A plurality of matching states of the forward axis graph including at least one final state may be identified, each matching state including a subset of the nodes wherein each incoming edge to the subset originates from one of the nodes of the subset. Whether the one or more components of the query exist within the document may be based on which events correspond to transitions between the matching states and whether the final state is achieved.