Java: Generic JAXB Serialization

Question

I'm looking for a generic way to serialize objects in Java using JAXB XML Serialization. I'd like to have something like this:

public static <T> String serializeUsingJAXB(T entity) {
    JAXBContext context = JAXBContext.newInstance(T.class);
    // ...
}

However, it looks as though due to type erasure, T.class doesn't work.

What will?

Answer 1

Try entity.getClass()

Answer 2

public static <T> String serializeUsingJAXB(
    T entity,
    Class< ? extends T> clazz
)
{
    JAXBContext context = JAXBContext.newInstance( clazz );
    // ...
}

Answer 3

The obvious answer is:

public static String serializeUsingJAXB(Object entity, JAXBContext context) {
    // ...
}

Answer 4

You might also consider:

public static <T> String serializeUsingJAXB(T entity) { 
    StringWriter writer = new StringWriter();
    javax.xml.bind.JAXB.marshal(entity, writer);
    return writer.toString();
} 

For more information see:

• http://download-llnw.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/javax/xml/bind/JAXB.html