LinQ to XML; query descendants using parent node value -

hi have following xml structure:

<root>  <persons>   <personlist category="employee">    <person name="john" id="5" />    <person name="mary" id="10" />   </personlist>  </persons> </root> 

i looking use linqtoxml , in order list of available person can write query:

var persons = p in mydoc.descendants("person") select p; 

now, have in order person where category in personlist element = specific value? can't use parent because need specify personlist element structure of xml may different 1 not element name. possible?

it sounds you're looking for

var people = mydoc.descendants("personlist")                   .where(p => p.attribute("category").value == something)                   .descendants("person"); 

if want category of specific <person> element, can write

var category = elem.ancestorsandself("personlist")                    .first().attribute("category").value;