Module java.xml.bind
Package javax.xml.bind.annotation

Annotation Type XmlElements

  • @Retention(RUNTIME)
@Target({FIELD,METHOD})
public @interface XmlElements

    A container for multiple @XmlElement annotations. Multiple annotations of the same type are not allowed on a program element. This annotation therefore serves as a container annotation for multiple @XmlElements as follows: 

     @XmlElements({ @XmlElement(...),@XmlElement(...) })

    The @XmlElements annotation can be used with the following program elements:

    • a JavaBean property
    • non static, non transient field
    This annotation is intended for annotation a JavaBean collection property (e.g. List).

    Usage

    The usage is subject to the following constraints:

    • This annotation can be used with the following annotations: @XmlIDREF, @XmlElementWrapper.
    • If @XmlIDREF is also specified on the JavaBean property, then each @XmlElement.type() must contain a JavaBean property annotated with @XmlID.

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

    Example 1: Map to a list of elements

    
    // Mapped code fragment
    public class Foo {
        @XmlElements(
            @XmlElement(name="A", type=Integer.class),
            @XmlElement(name="B", type=Float.class)
         )
         public List items;
    }
 

    <!-- XML Representation for a List of {1,2.5}
            XML output is not wrapped using another element -->
    ...
    <A> 1 </A>
    <B> 2.5 </B>
    ...

    <!-- XML Schema fragment -->
    <xs:complexType name="Foo">
      <xs:sequence>
        <xs:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
          <xs:element name="A" type="xs:int"/>
          <xs:element name="B" type="xs:float"/>
        <xs:choice>
      </xs:sequence>
    </xs:complexType>

    Example 2: Map to a list of elements wrapped with another element 

    
    // Mapped code fragment
    public class Foo {
        @XmlElementWrapper(name="bar")
        @XmlElements(
            @XmlElement(name="A", type=Integer.class),
            @XmlElement(name="B", type=Float.class)
        }
        public List items;
    }
 

    <!-- XML Schema fragment -->
    <xs:complexType name="Foo">
      <xs:sequence>
        <xs:element name="bar">
          <xs:complexType>
            <xs:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
              <xs:element name="A" type="xs:int"/>
              <xs:element name="B" type="xs:float"/>
            </xs:choice>
          </xs:complexType>
        </xs:element>
      </xs:sequence>
    </xs:complexType>

    Example 3: Change element name based on type using an adapter. 

        class Foo {
       @XmlJavaTypeAdapter(QtoPAdapter.class)
       @XmlElements({
           @XmlElement(name="A",type=PX.class),
           @XmlElement(name="B",type=PY.class)
       })
       Q bar;
    }

    @XmlType abstract class P {...}
    @XmlType(name="PX") class PX extends P {...}
    @XmlType(name="PY") class PY extends P {...}
 

    <!-- XML Schema fragment -->
    <xs:complexType name="Foo">
      <xs:sequence>
        <xs:element name="bar">
          <xs:complexType>
            <xs:choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
              <xs:element name="A" type="PX"/>
              <xs:element name="B" type="PY"/>
            </xs:choice>
          </xs:complexType>
        </xs:element>
      </xs:sequence>
    </xs:complexType>
    Since:
    1.6, JAXB 2.0
    See Also:
    XmlElement, XmlElementRef, XmlElementRefs, XmlJavaTypeAdapter

    • Required Element Summary

      Required Elements 
      Modifier and Type Required Element Description
      XmlElement[] value
      Collection of @XmlElement annotations