Overview
Prev |  | Next

Links: Table of Contents | Single HTML | Single PDF

# Overview

The Java™ Architecture for XML Binding (JAXB) provides an API and tools that automate the mapping between XML documents and Java objects.

The JAXB framework enables developers to perform the following operations:

- Unmarshal XML content into a Java representation

- Access and update the Java representation

- Marshal the Java representation of the XML content into XML content

JAXB gives Java developers an efficient and standard way of mapping between XML and Java code. Java developers using JAXB are more productive because they can write less code themselves and do not have to be experts in XML. JAXB makes it easier for developers to extend their applications with XML and Web Services technologies.

## 1. Documentation

Documentation for this release consists of the following:

- Release Notes

- Running the binding compiler (XJC): [XJC, XJC Ant Task]

- Running the schema generator (schemagen): [SchemaGen, SchemaGen Ant Task]

- JAXB Users Guide

- Javadoc API documentation (javax.xml.bind.*)

- Sample Apps

- JAXB FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions, java.sun.com]

## 2. Software Licenses

- 2013 Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

- The JAXB RI ${release.impl.version}${release.impl.version.suffix} Release is covered under the terms of the Eclipse Distribution License v. 1.0

- Additional copyright notices and license terms applicable to portions of the software are set forth in the 3rd Party License README

## 3. Sample Apps

This page summarizes basic use-cases for Java-2-Schema, Schema-2-Java, and lists all of the sample applications that ship with JAXB.

### 3.1. Using the Runtime Binding Framework

#### 3.1.1. Schema-2-Java

Schema-2-Java is the process of compiling one or more schema files into generated Java classes. Here are some of the basic steps for developing an app:

1. Develop/locate your schema

2. Annotate the schema with binding customizations if necessary (or place them in an external bindings file)

3. Compile the schema with the XJC binding compiler

4. Develop your JAXB client application using the Java content classes generated by the XJC binding compiler along with the `javax.xml.bind` runtime framework

5. Set your `CLASSPATH` to include all of the Identifying the JAR Files

6. Compile all of your Java sources with `javac`

7. Run it!

#### 3.1.2. Java-2-Schema

Java-2-Schema is the process of augmenting existing Java classes with the annotations defined in the `javax.xml.bind.annotation` package so that the JAXB runtime binding framework is capable of performing the (un)marshal operations. Here are the basic steps for developing an app:

1. Develop your data model in Java

2. Apply the `javax.xml.bind.annotation` annotations to control the binding process

3. Set your `CLASSPATH` to include all of the Identifying the JAR Files

4. Compile your data model with `javac`

   ### Important

   Make sure that you `CLASSPATH` includes `jaxb-xjc.jar` before running javac.

5. The resulting class files will contain your annotations as well other default annotations needed by the JAXB runtime binding framework

6. Develop your client application that uses the data model and develop the code that uses the JAXB runtime binding framework to persist your data model using the (un)marshal operations.

7. Compile and run your client application!

For more information about this process, see the the Java WSDP Tutorial and the extensive Sample Apps documentation.

#### 3.1.3. Building and Running the Sample Apps with Ant

To run the sample applications, just go into each sample directory, and run ant without any option.

A few sample applications do not use Ant. For those samples, refer to the included `readme.txt` files for instructions.

#### 3.1.4. List of Sample Apps

`samples/catalog-resolver`

  This example demonstrates how to use the `-catalog` compiler switch to handle references to schemas in external web sites.

`samples/character-escape`

  This example shows how you can use the new JAXB RI `Marshaller` property `com.sun.xml.bind.characterEscapeHandler` to change the default character escaping behavior.

`samples/class-resolver`

  This little DI-container-by-JAXB example demonstrates how one can avoid passing in a list of classes upfront, and instead load classes lazily.

`samples/create-marshal`

  This sample application demonstrates how to use the `ObjectFactory` class to create a Java content tree from scratch and marshal it to XML data. It also demonstrates how to add content to a JAXB List property.

`samples/cycle-recovery`

  JAXB RI's vendor extension `CycleRecoverable` provides application a hook to handle cycles in the object graph. Advanced.

`samples/datatypeconverter`

  This sample application is very similar to the inline-customize sample application (formerly SampleApp6), but illustrates an easier, but not as robust, `<jaxb:javaType>` customization.

`samples/dtd`

  This sample application illustrate some of the DTD support available in the JAXB RI's extension mode. Please refer to the JAXB RI Extensions page for more detail.

`samples/element-substitution`

  This sample application illustrates how W3C XML Schema substitution groups are supported in JAXB RI's extension mode. Please refer to the JAXB RI Extensions page for more detail.

`samples/external-customize`

  This sample application is identical to the datatypeconverter sample application (formerly SampleApp7) except that the binding customizations are contained in an external binding file.

`samples/fix-collides`

  Another binding customization example that illustrates how to resolve name conflicts. Running this sample without the binding file will result in name collisions (see `readme.txt`) . Running ant will use the binding customizations to resolve the name conflicts while compiling the schema.

`samples/inline-customize`

  This sample application demonstrates how to customize the default binding produced by the XJC binding compiler.

`samples/j2s-crete-marshal`

  This sample application demonstrates marshalling, unmarshalling and unmarshal validation with existing Java classes annotated with JAXB annotations.

`samples/j2s-xmlAccessorOrder`

  This sample application demonstrates the use of mapping annotations `@XmlAccessorOrder` and `@XmlType.propOrder` in Java classes for ordering properties and fields in Java to schema bindings.

`samples/j2s-xmlAdapter`

  This sample application demonstrates the use of interface `XmlAdapter` and annotation `XmlJavaTypeAdapter` for custom marshaling/unmarshaling XML content into/out of a Java type.

`samples/j2s-xmlAttribute`

  This sample application demonstrates the use of annotation `@XmlAttribute` for defining Java properties and fields as XML attributes.

`samples/j2s-xmlRootElement`

  This sample application demonstrates the use of annotation `@XmlRootElement` to define a class to be an XML element.

`samples/j2s-xmlSchematType`

  This sample application demonstrates the use of annotation `@XmlSchemaType` to customize the mapping of a property or field to an XML built-in type.

`samples/j2s-xmlType`

  This sample application demonstrates the use of mapping annotations `@XmlAccessorOrder` and `@XmlType.propOrder` in Java classes for ordering properties and fields in Java to schema bindings.

`samples/locator-support`

  This sample shows how to use the new non-standard locator support. By following the instructions in the readme.txt file, you can cause all of the generated impl classes to implement a new interface that provides more information about error locations. When a `ValidationEvent` happens on your content tree, simply retrieve the object and cast it down to `com.sun.xml.bind.extra.Locatable`.

`samples/modify-marshal`

  This sample application demonstrates how to modify a java content tree and marshal it back to XML data.

`samples/namespace-prefix`

  This sample application demonstrates how to use the new JAXB RI Marshaller property `com.sun.xml.bind.namespacePrefixMapper` to customize the namespace prefixes generated during marshalling.

`samples/partial-unmarshalling`

  In this example, the input document will be unmarshalled a small chunk at a time, instead of unmarshalling the whole document at once.

`samples/pull-parser`

  This sample app demonstrates how a pull-parser can be used with JAXB to increase the flexibility of processing.

`samples/streaming-unmarshalling`

  This example illustrates a different approach to the streaming unmarshalling, which is suitable for processing a large document.

`samples/synchronized-methods`

  This sample shows how to use the new non-standard synchronized method support. By following the instructions in the `readme.txt`, you can cause all of the generated impl class methods signatures to contain the `synchronized` keyword.

`samples/type-substitution`

  This sample app demonstrates type substitution using the W3C XML Schema Part 0: Primer international purchase order schema.

`samples/ubl`

  This project processes a UBL (Universal Business Language) order instance and prints a report to the screen.

`samples/unmarshal-read`

  This sample application demonstrates how to unmarshal an instance document into a Java content tree and access data contained within it.

`samples/unmarshal-validate`

  This sample application demonstrates how to enable validation during the unmarshal operations.

`samples/updateablePartialBind`

  This sample application demonstrates how to partially map a DOM tree to JAXB (using JAXP 1.3 XPath), modify JAXB mapped instance and then update modifications back to the DOM tree.

`samples/vendor-extensions`

  This example demonstrates how to use `<xjc:superClass>` vendor extensions provided by Sun's JAXB RI, as well as `<jaxb:serializable>` customization.

`samples/xml-channel`

  This example demonstrates how one can use one communication channel (such as a socket) to send multiple XML messages, and how it can be combined with JAXB.

`samples/xml-stylesheet`

  A common customization need for the marshalling output is about introducing extra processing instruction and/or `DOCTYPE` declaration. This example demonstrates how such modification can be done easily.

Prev |  | Next
JAXB Release Documentation | Home | Release Notes