What is JAXB and how do I use it?

What is JAXB and how do I use it?

JAXB stands for Java Architecture for XML Binding. It allows Java developers to convert Java objects to XML and vice versa. You can use it by annotating your Java classes with JAXB annotations.

Can you give me an example of how to marshal a Java object to XML?

Sure! First, you need to create a JAXB context for your class, then use the marshal method to convert the object to XML. Here's a simple example:

JAXBContext context = JAXBContext.newInstance(YourClass.class);
Marshaller marshaller = context.createMarshaller();
marshaller.setProperty(Marshaller.JAXB_FORMATTED_OUTPUT, true);
marshaller.marshal(yourObject, System.out);

What about unmarshalling? How do I convert XML back to a Java object?

To unmarshal XML back to a Java object, you can use the Unmarshaller class. Here's how you can do it:

Unmarshaller unmarshaller = context.createUnmarshaller();
YourClass yourObject = (YourClass) unmarshaller.unmarshal(new File("yourfile.xml"));

Are there any common issues I should be aware of when using JAXB?

Yes, some common issues include handling namespaces, ensuring your XML structure matches your Java classes, and dealing with exceptions during marshalling/unmarshalling.