javax.xml.bind.annotation
Annotation Type XmlType

@Retention(value=RUNTIME)
@Target(value=TYPE)
public @interface XmlType

Maps a class or an enum type to a XML Schema type.

Usage

The @XmlType annnotation can be used with the following program elements:

• a top level class
• an enum type

See "Package Specification" in javax.xml.bind.package javadoc for additional common information.

Mapping a Class

A class maps to a XML Schema type. A class is a data container for values represented by properties and fields. A schema type is a data container for values represented by schema components within a schema type's content model (e.g. model groups, attributes etc).

To be mapped, a class must either have a public zero arg constructor or a static zero arg factory method. In the absence of either, XmlJavaTypeAdapter annotation can be used to adapt the class. The static factory method can be specified in factoryMethod() and factoryClass() annotation elements.

A class maps to either a XML Schema complex type or a XML Schema simple type. The XML Schema type is derived based on the mapping of JavaBean properties and fields contained within the class. The schema type to which the class is mapped can either be named or anonymous. A class can be mapped to an anonymous schema type by annotating the class with @XmlType(name="").

Either a global element, local element or a local attribute can be associated with an anoymous type as follows:

• global element: A global element of an anonmyous type can be derived by annotating the class with @XmlRootElement. See Example 3 below.
• local element: A JavaBean property that references the class annotated with @XmlType(name="") and mapped to an element is associated with an anonymous type. See Example 4 below.
• attribute: A JavaBean property that references the class annotated with @and is mapped to a attribute is associated with an anonymous type. See Example 5 below.

Mapping to XML Schema Complex Type

• If class is annotated with @XmlType(name="") , then class is mapped to an anonymous type. Otherwise class name maps to a complex type name. The XmlName() annotation element can be used to customize the name.
• Properties and fields that are mapped to elements map to a content model within the complex type. The annotation element propOrder() can be used to customize the the content model to be xs:all or xs:sequence and also for specifying the order of XML elements in xs:sequence.
• Properties and fields mapped to attributes within the complex type.
• The targetnamespace of the XML Schema type can be customized using the annotation element namespace().

Mapping class to XML Schema simple type

A class can be mapped to a XML Schema simple type using the @XmlValue annotation. For additional details and examples, see @XmlValue annotation type.

The following table shows the mapping of the class to a XML Schema complex type or simple type. The notational symbols used in the table are:

• -> : represents a mapping
• [x]+ : one or more occurances of x
• [ @XmlValue property ]: JavaBean property annotated with @XmlValue
• X : don't care

Target	propOrder	ClassBody	ComplexType	SimpleType
Class	{}	[property]+ -> elements	complexcontent xs:all
Class	non empty	[property]+ -> elements	complexcontent xs:sequence
Class	X	no property -> element	complexcontent empty sequence
Class	X	1 [ @XmlValue property] && [property]+ ->attributes	simplecontent
Class	X	1 [ @XmlValue property ]&& no properties -> attribute		simpletype

Mapping an enum type

An enum type maps to a XML schema simple type with enumeration facets. The following annotation elements are ignored since they are not meaningful: propOrder() , factoryMethod() , factoryClass() . *

Usage with other annotations

This annotation can be used with the following annotations: XmlRootElement, XmlAccessorOrder, XmlAccessorType, XmlJavaTypeAdapter, XmlEnum. However, XmlAccessorOrder and XmlAccessorType are ignored when this annotation is used on an enum type.

Example 1: Map a class to a complex type with xs:sequence with a customized ordering of JavaBean properties.

   @XmlType(propOrder={"street", "city" , "state", "zip", "name" })
   public class USAddress {
     String getName() {..};
     void setName(String) {..};
 
     String getStreet() {..};
     void setStreet(String) {..};

     String getCity() {..}; 
     void setCity(String) {..};
 
     String getState() {..};
     void setState(String) {..};

     java.math.BigDecimal getZip() {..};
     void setZip(java.math.BigDecimal) {..};
   }

   <!-- XML Schema mapping for USAddress -->
   <xs:complexType name="USAddress">
     <xs:sequence>
       <xs:element name="street" type="xs:string"/>
       <xs:element name="city" type="xs:string"/>
       <xs:element name="state" type="xs:string"/>
       <xs:element name="zip" type="xs:decimal"/>
       <xs:element name="name" type="xs:string"/>
     </xs:all>
   </xs:complexType> 
 

Example 2: Map a class to a complex type with xs:all

 @XmlType(propOrder={})
 public class USAddress { ...}
 
 <!-- XML Schema mapping for USAddress -->
 <xs:complexType name="USAddress">
   <xs:all>
     <xs:element name="name" type="xs:string"/>
     <xs:element name="street" type="xs:string"/>
     <xs:element name="city" type="xs:string"/>
     <xs:element name="state" type="xs:string"/>
     <xs:element name="zip" type="xs:decimal"/>
   </xs:sequence>
 </xs:complexType>

Example 3: Map a class to a global element with an anonymous type.

   @XmlRootElement
   @XmlType(name="")
   public class USAddress { ...}

   <!-- XML Schema mapping for USAddress -->
   <xs:element name="USAddress">
     <xs:complexType>
       <xs:sequence>
         <xs:element name="name" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="street" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="city" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="state" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:element name="zip" type="xs:decimal"/>
       </xs:sequence>
     </xs:complexType>
   </xs:element>
 

Example 4: Map a property to a local element with anonmyous type.

   //Example: Code fragment
   public class Invoice {
       USAddress addr;
           ...
       }

   @XmlType(name="")
   public class USAddress { ... }
   } 

   <!-- XML Schema mapping for USAddress -->
   <xs:complexType name="Invoice">
     <xs:sequence>
       <xs:element name="addr">
         <xs:complexType>
           <xs:element name="name", type="xs:string"/>
           <xs:element name="city", type="xs:string"/>
           <xs:element name="city" type="xs:string"/>
           <xs:element name="state" type="xs:string"/>
           <xs:element name="zip" type="xs:decimal"/>
         </xs:complexType>
       ...
     </xs:sequence>
   </xs:complexType> 
 

Example 5: Map a property to an attribute with anonmyous type.

     //Example: Code fragment
     public class Item {
         public String name;
         @XmlAttribute 
         public USPrice price;
     }
    
     // map class to anonymous simple type. 
     @XmlType(name="")
     public class USPrice { 
         @XmlValue
         public java.math.BigDecimal price;
     }

     <!-- Example: XML Schema fragment -->
     <xs:complexType name="Item">
       <xs:sequence>
         <xs:element name="name" type="xs:string"/>
         <xs:attribute name="price">
           <xs:simpleType>
             <xs:restriction base="xs:decimal"/>
           </xs:simpleType>
         </xs:attribute>
       </xs:sequence>
     </xs:complexType>
 

Since:

JAXB2.0

See Also:

XmlElement, XmlAttribute, XmlValue, XmlSchema

Optional Element Summary

java.lang.Class	factoryClass Class containing a zero arg factory method for creating an instance of the annotated class.
java.lang.String	factoryMethod Name of a zero arg factory method in factoryClass() for creating an instance of the annotated class.
java.lang.String	name Name of the XML Schema type which the class is mapped.
java.lang.String	namespace Name of the target namespace of the XML Schema type.
java.lang.String[]	propOrder Specifies the order for XML Schema elements when class is mapped to a XML Schema complex type.

name

public abstract java.lang.String name

Name of the XML Schema type which the class is mapped.

Default:

"##default"

propOrder

public abstract java.lang.String[] propOrder

Specifies the order for XML Schema elements when class is mapped to a XML Schema complex type.

Refer to the table for how the propOrder affects the mapping of class

The propOrder is a list of names of JavaBean properties in the class. Each name in the list is the name of a Java identifier of the JavaBean property. The order in which JavaBean properties are listed is the order of XML Schema elements to which the JavaBean properties are mapped.

All of the JavaBean properties being mapped to XML Schema elements must be listed. If a JavaBean property is marked with @XmlTransient, then it is ignored.

The default ordering of JavaBean properties is determined by @XmlAccessorOrder.

Default:

""

namespace

public abstract java.lang.String namespace

Name of the target namespace of the XML Schema type. By default, this is the target namespace to which the package containing the class is mapped.

Default:

"##default"

factoryClass

public abstract java.lang.Class factoryClass

Class containing a zero arg factory method for creating an instance of the annotated class. The default is this class.

Default:

javax.xml.bind.annotation.XmlType.DEFAULT.class

factoryMethod

public abstract java.lang.String factoryMethod

Name of a zero arg factory method in factoryClass() for creating an instance of the annotated class. The factory method is used during unmarshalling to create an instance of the annotated class. It is intended to be used for classes that do not contain a zero arg constructor.

Default:

""