Objectives

XML is a very powerful tool for various reasons: it can be used for configuration, representing data, and for structuring and exchanging information. Its syntax is easy to use, and offers the possibility to describe information in a way that it can be understood by human readers as well as computers. Java supports the use of XML by providing a set of APIs to enable the parsing, manipulation and transformation of XML documents. This course will help you understand and use these APIs.

The course will begin with a summary of the basic XML concepts, to enable all participants to start at the same level. It will then show an overview of the different Java APIs and their uses. The course continues by showing the different possible uses of XML in Java programs. Afterwards, each API will be introduced individually, from SAX, DOM, StAX, and JDOM to JAXB and TrAX. The course will end its API overview with an introduction to Java Web Services.

During the course, participants will be able to gain practical knowledge in the use of these APIs during instructor-led exercises that will cover all the APIs. At the end of the course they will have enough understanding to be able to use XML in any Java Application.

The course does not cover the XPath and XSLT syntax used for transforming XML documents.

Main topics

• XML
• Basic XML Concepts
• 7 XML Statements
• History of XML
• XML vs. HTML
• XML Advantages
• Using XML in Programs
• Structure of an XML Document
• Well-formedness
• XML Namespaces
• XML Schemas
• Rendering XML Documents
• XPath and XSLT Overview
• XSL-FO
• Overview of Java APIs for XML
• Push-Type Streaming APIs
• Tree-Based APIs
• Pull-Type Streaming APIs
• Data Binding APIs
• Query APIs
• Web Services
• XML Uses and Best Practices
• Using XML in Applications
• Using Design Patterns for XML: Builder; Visitor
• SAX
• What is SAX?
• Anatomy of a SAX Application
• SAX Structure
• SAX Callback Mechanism
• SAXParser, DefaultHandler
• SAX Exception Handling
• SAX Example
• DOM
• What is DOM?
• DOM Tree Structure
• Anatomy of a DOM Application
• DOM Structure
• DocumentBuilder
• DOM Interfaces
• DOM Exception Handling
• DOM Level 2 and 3
• JDOM
• Why Another Tree-Based API?
• Core JDOM Classes
• Constructors
• Input and Output with JDOM
• Creating Documents and Elements
• Other JDOM Possibilities
• StAX
• What is StAX?
• Obtaining StAX
• Anatomy of a StAX Application
• StAX Event Types and Interfaces
• Document Output using StAX
• JAXB
• What is JAXB?
• Marshalling and Unmarshalling
• JAXB Example
• Data Binding, Metadata, Schemas
• When to Use Data Binding
• JAXB Versions
• The JAXBContext
• Compiling a Schema
• Creating a Schema from a Class
• Schema Validation
• Advanced JAXB Usage
• TrAX
• What is TrAX?
• TrAX Structure
• How does it work?
• Steps
• TrAX Example
• Java XML Web Services
• Background, Overview and Basic Principles
• Relation to SOA
• Benefits of Web Services
• XML Technologies Used
• UDDI, WSDL and SOAP
• Using Java XML Web Services
• Summary and conclusions