Power Automate makers replace slow loops with XPath
Reviewed by Helen Jones
A new Reza Dorrani tutorial shows how Power Automate makers can use XPath, a query language for selecting values from structured data, instead of Apply to each loops that only calculate totals, averages or summaries. The pattern is demonstrated with HTTP responses and SharePoint Get Items output.
Apply to each is an easy choice when a flow returns several records, so it often appears even when the flow only needs one calculated result. Every extra loop adds actions, makes the run history harder to read and can become painful as the number of records grows. XPath can move that calculation into a smaller expression and remove unnecessary actions. It will not replace every loop, but it gives makers a useful alternative when the loop is processing data rather than performing a separate action for each record.
Analysis
Open one high-volume flow and check whether any Apply to each loop only produces a total, average or summary; test the XPath pattern on a copy before changing the live flow.
Source note
Pulse published by Collab365 Spaces, reviewed by Helen Jones on . Cite as "Power Automate makers replace slow loops with XPath", Collab365 Spaces. 1 source referenced.