2. The method of claim 1 , further including evaluating a path expression based on said hierarchy-value index and token containment between said leaf tokens and said non-leaf tokens.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including evaluating a path expression based on said hierarchy-value index and token containment between said leaf tokens and said non-leaf tokens. 13. The method of claim 2 , further including: in response to a database statement that includes a path-based statement operator that contains said path expression: generating an execution plan that includes a path-based index plan operator for evaluating said path-based statement operator; and executing the execution plan including the path-based index plan operator, wherein executing the path-based index plan operator includes said evaluating said path expression.