JAXB Introduction (Java Architecture for XML Binding)

What is JAXB?

JAXB, stands for Java Architecture for XML Binding, using JAXB annotation to convert Java object to / from XML file.

Why use JAXB?

• Defines an API for reading and writing Java objects to and from XML documents.
• Don't need to be aware of XML parsing techniques.
• No extra dependency needed (its inside JDK)
• Used as a standard in many cases.

 

 There are two operations in JAXB

1.     Marshalling – Convert a Java object into a XML file.
2.     Unmarshalling – Convert XML content into a Java Object. 

 Basic annotations in JAXB

@XmlRootElement

Define the root element for the XML to be produced with @XmlRootElement JAXB annotation. The name of the root XML element is derived from the class name.

@XmlRootElement
public class Country implements Serializable {
...
}

@XmlElement

 
Annotate all fields that needs to be include in XML/JSON output with @XMLElement.

@XmlElement  
  public void setCountryName(String countryName) {  
   this.countryName = countryName;  
  }

 
@XmlType

 
Specify the order in which XML elements or JSON output will be produced.

@XmlType(propOrder = { "countryName", "countryPopulation", "listOfProvince"})