How to Marshall a Map to XML with Key as Element Name in JAXB?

Marshall a Map to XML with Key as Element Name

JAXB provides a convenient way to map objects to XML. However, for a Map, it typically marshals it into a structure with nested elements containing and elements.

In some cases, you may want to marshall the Map to XML with the keys as element names and the values as the element contents.

Addressing Dynamic Attribute Names

The recommended approach provided by JAXB developers for handling custom marshalling and unmarshalling involves using an XmlAdapter. However, implementing the adapter to handle dynamic attribute names can be challenging.

Alternative Solutions

While generating such XML is generally discouraged due to its impact on interface contract, there are a few possible solutions:

1. Use an Enumerated Type for Keys:

Define an enumerated type for the map keys. This ensures that the XSD includes a list of known elements at compile time.

2. Simplify Default Structure:

Use a MapAdapter to convert the Map to an array of MapElements containing attributes for key and value. This simplifies the XML structure to a list of elements with key and value attributes.

Conclusion

While it's not recommended to generate XML with dynamic element names, the provided alternatives offer solutions for specific scenarios where this behavior is desired.

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