JAXB and XmlBeans are both Java-based technologies used for processing XML data. While they have some similarities, there are also some key differences between the two. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the key differences between JAXB and XmlBeans, and discuss which one might be a better fit for your needs.
What is JAXB?
JAXB is an XML-binding technology that enables developers to map Java objects to and from XML documents. JAXB provides a fast and convenient way to access XML data from Java applications. JAXB promotes Object-Oriented design by providing a Java representation of an XML document.
- JAXB also provides a mechanism to marshal (or serialize) Java objects into XML and un-marshal (or deserialize) XML back into Java objects. JAXB allows developers to manipulate XML data within the context of a Java object model, making it an ideal solution for accessing and manipulating XML data from Java applications.
- JAXB is part of the Java EE platform and is included in the JDK 6 (Java SE 6). JAXB is also available as part of the JWSDP 1.6. JAXB 2.0 was released as part of JWSDP 2.0, which is included in JDK 6u10 (Java SE 6 Update 10).
- JAXB 2.1 was released as part of JWSDP 2.1, which is included in JDK 7 (Java SE 7). JAXB 2.2 was released as part of JWSDP 2.2, which is included in JDK 8 (Java SE 8).
- JAXB has been a core component of the Java EE platform since its inception and has been incorporated into many other technologies such as WS-I Basic Profile 1.1, Web Services Metadata for the Java Platform 1.0, and OASIS eXtensible Access Control Markup Language (XACML) 3.0 Profile for OASIS WSS 1.1.
What is XmlBeans?
XMLBeans is a technology for accessing XML by binding it to Java types. XmlBeans provides two things:
– First, the XmlBeans compiler takes an XML schema and generates fully annotated Java classes based on that schema. These classes contain all the accessor methods you need to get at the underlying XML structure. The generated classes also contain type-safe setters so that you can modify your XML document and then save it back as XML.
– Second, XmlBeans includes an embedded XmlOptions class which makes it easy to manipulate documents while they’re still in memory, without having to read/write through a file or a stream.
Differences between JAXB and XmlBeans
- JAXB and XmlBeans are both XML-based programming technologies that are used for binding XML to Java objects. There are a few key differences between the two technologies. JAXB is a Sun technology and is bundled with the JDK, while XmlBeans is an Apache project.
- JAXB has a richer feature set, including support for unmarshalling, marshalling, and validation. JAXB also uses less memory than XmlBeans. However, XmlBeans has better performance when marshalling and unmarshalling large files.
- In addition, XmlBeans supports type substitution and type evolution, while JAXB does not. Overall, both JAXB and XmlBeans have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for a particular project will depend on the specific needs of the project.
Conclusion
So, which XML marshalling library should you use in your Java applications? If you don’t have any specific requirements and are looking for a standard solution that works well with most Java applications, JAXB is probably the better option. However, if you need more flexibility or performance, XmlBeans may be a better choice. In the end, it all comes down to what your specific needs are.
