Generate Java classes from .XSD files...?

java

xml-binding

xsd-files

java-annotations

byAnton Shumikhin·Jan 27, 2025

Transforming .xsd files into Java classes is just a shell command away using JAXB's xjc:

xjc -p com.mycode.model mySchema.xsd

The -p flag specifies target package (com.mycode.model). If on Java 9 or later, remember to add JAXB as a dependency, as it's no longer included in JDK.

Unpacking JAXB

JAXB, or Java Architecture for XML Binding, outlines the process of converting Java objects to XML and back. It's highly appreciated for its simplicity and requires no extra runtime dependencies.

Digging deeper

A deeper dive into JAXB reveals several key features and capabilities that make it a powerful and versatile tool.

Lightweight and reliable

JAXB is part of the JDK since 1.6. It doesn't require any additional libraries, making your project setup clean and impact-free.

Annotations

The generated Java classes include JAXB annotations. These annotations bind Java classes to XML schema definitions.

Alternatives to JAXB

While JAXB is an excellent tool, other options like XMLBeans or Simple XML Serialization could be more suitable depending on your use-case.

IDE support

IDEs like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA have built-in support for JAXB. These provide a more interactive, less command-line focused approach to XML-Java binding.

Useful techniques and best practices

Validation

Validate your XML against the Schema before unmarshalling. It helps prevent unexpected exceptions and improves data consistency.

Marshalling and Unmarshalling

Use JAXB's JAXBContext and Marshaller for converting Java objects to XML. Unmarshaller coverts XML back to Java.

Advanced topics

For more advanced JAXB concepts, consider reading blogs like those by Kohsuke, one of the original architects of JAXB.

Deeper understanding

JAXBContext

JAXBContext is the starting point for JAXB operations. It's responsible for managing the process of binding XML schema and Java classes during serialization and deserialization.

Marshaller and Unmarshaller

Marshaller and Unmarshaller handle the conversion between Java objects and the XML document. Marshaller writes Java objects to XML, while Unmarshaller reads XML documents and creates the Java objects.