Columns without a Name
Any column without a name will be inlined. For example, computed columns or nested scalar queries that do not specify column alias will generate columns without any name. If the column is of xml type, the content of that data type instance is inserted. Otherwise, the column content is inserted as a text node.
SELECT 2+2
FOR XML PATH
Produce this XML. By default, for each row in the rowset, a <row> element is generated in the resulting XML. This is the same as RAW mode.
<row>4</row>
The following query returns a three-column rowset. The third column without a name has XML data. The PATH mode inserts an instance of the xml type.
USE AdventureWorks2012;
GO
SELECT ProductModelID,
Name,
Instructions.query('declare namespace MI="https://schemas.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2004/07/adventure-works/ProductModelManuInstructions";
/MI:root/MI:Location
')
FROM Production.ProductModel
WHERE ProductModelID=7
FOR XML PATH ;
GO
This is the partial result:
<row>
<ProductModelID>7</ProductModelID>
<Name>HL Touring Frame</Name>
<MI:Location ...LocationID="10" ...></MI:Location>
<MI:Location ...LocationID="20" ...></MI:Location>
...
</row>