Document merge

A system merges documents such as XML documents, the system receives an update document 202 including one or more updates (e.g. address, email, telephone updates) for a target document 204 arranged according to a document schema defined by schema information (e.g. XML schema). Update information includes one or more paths to nodes within the document schema, and is examined to identify eligible paths for the updates. The updates from the update document associated with the eligible paths are applied to the target document in accordance with the schema information to produce an updated document 206 in compliance with the document schema. The update information maybe generated dynamically based on the update document. The updates may include at least one of insertion of a node, deletion of a node, and modification of a value.