XML Methodology

The following examples show how different data types are represented in XML. They mirror how the data structures are represented in JSON.

Simple types

The representation of loose (not a direct bean property value) simple types are shown below:

Data type JSON example XML
string 'foo' <string>foo</string>
boolean true <boolean>true</boolean>
integer 123 <number>123</number>
float 1.23 <number>1.23</number>
null null <null/>
Maps

Loose maps and beans use the element <object> for encapsulation.

_type attributes are added to bean properties or map entries if the type cannot be inferred through reflection (e.g. an Object or superclass/interface value type).

Data type JSON example XML
Map<String,String> { k1: 'v1' k2: null } <object> <k1>v1</k1> <k2 _type='null'/> </object>
Map<String,Number> { k1: 123, k2: 1.23, k3: null } <object> <k1>123</k1> <k2>1.23</k2> <k3 _type='null'/> </object>
Map<String,Object> { k1: 'v1' k2: 123, k3: 1.23, k4: true, k5: null } <object> <k1>v1</k1> <k2 _type='number'>123</k2> <k3 _type='number'>1.23</k3> <k4 _type='boolean'>true</k4> <k5 _type='null'/> </object>
Arrays

Loose collections and arrays use the element <array> for encapsulation.

Data type JSON example XML
String[] [ 'foo' null ] <array> <string>foo</string> <null/> </array>
Number[] [ 123, 1.23, null ] <array> <number>123</number> <number>1.23</number> <null/> </array>
Object[] [ 'foo', 123, 1.23, true, null ] <array> <string>foo</string> <number>123</number> <number>1.23</number> <boolean>true</boolean> <null/> </array>
String[][] [ ['foo', null], null, ] <array> <array> <string>foo</string> <null/> </array> <null/> </array>
int[] [ 123 ] <array> <number>123</number> </array>
boolean[] [ true ] <array> <boolean>true</boolean> </array>
List<String> [ 'foo' null ] <array> <string>foo</string> <null/> </array>
List<Number> [ 123, 1.23, null ] <array> <number>123</number> <number>1.23</number> <null/> </array>
List<Object> [ 'foo', 123, 1.23, true, null ] <array> <string>foo</string> <number>123</number> <number>1.23</number> <boolean>true</boolean> <null/> </array>
Beans
Data type JSON example XML
class MyBean { public String a; public int b; public Object c; // String value public Object d; // Integer value public MyBean2 e; public String[] f; public int[] g; } class MyBean2 { String h; } { a: 'foo', b: 123, c: 'bar', d: 456, e: { h: 'baz' } f: ['qux'] g: [789] } <object> <a>foo</a> <b>123</b> <c>bar</c> <d _type='number'>456</d> <e> <h>baz</h> </e> <f> <string>qux</string> </f> <g> <number>789</number> </g> </object>
Beans with Map properties
Data type JSON example XML
class MyBean { public Map<String,String> a; public Map<String,Number> b; public Map<String,Object> c; } { a: { k1: 'foo' }, b: { k2: 123 }, c: { k3: 'bar', k4: 456, k5: true, k6: null } } <object> <a> <k1>foo</k1> </a> <b> <k2>123</k2> </b> <c> <k3>bar</k3> <k4 _type='number'>456</k4> <k5 _type='boolean'>true</k5> <k6 _type='null'/> </c> </object>