title: Datapower extension functions and extension elements
body: <p>I am currently involved into Websphere Datapower SOA appliance development. However I am getting confused between two entities. Datapower extension functions and elements.</p>
  
  <p>Can someone tell me what is main difference between the two and why in Datapower extension function namespace we only give:</p>
  
  <pre><code>xmlns:dp="http://www.datapower.com/extensions"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>while in Datapower extension elements we mention the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>xmlns:dp="http://www.datapower.com/extensions"
  extension-element-prefix="dp"
  exclude-result-prefix="dp"
  </code></pre>