JAXB returns "null" string instead of null

Question

on setting an element:

element.setValue(null)

it marshalls the XML to

<element>
 <value>null<value>
</element>

I am expecting it to be:

<element>
  <value/>
</element>

or

 <element />

Can you show the class of `element`? In particular how the `value` property is annotated (if at all). — Ian Roberts, Apr 29 '14 at 21:09

bdoughan · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-29T23:10:17.070

1

JAXB does not marshal a null value as:

<foo>null</foo>

By default it will not marshal the element. If you annotate it with @XmlElement(nillable=true) the xsi:nil attribute will be used.

For More Information

edited Apr 29 '14 at 23:10

answered Apr 29 '14 at 22:13

bdoughan

1

This is correct. There must be some problem with my logic. JAXB does not create String "null". – Sandeep Jindal May 01 '14 at 14:17

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:11

0

You need to put @XmlValue annotation on getter method value

@XmlValue
public String getValue(){
}

edited May 23 '17 at 12:11

Community

answered Apr 29 '14 at 21:17

Asif Bhutto

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 29 '14 at 21:20

0

Try to set to element.setValue("") , instead of null directly for the desired output.

answered Apr 29 '14 at 21:20

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 29 '14 at 22:18

You have two options:

set the value with an empty string and do that each time you want an empty field in the file
In the getter method of value you do so:
```
public String getValue(){
 if(value == null)
       return null;
 return value;
}
```
In this case if you don't give a value to this field then you will have an empty element. Personnally, I prefer the first solution

4 Answers4