How do I change a JSON field name for a Java property in Yasson?

Use the @JsonbProperty annotation on the field or getter method. For example, annotating with @JsonbProperty("custom_name") serializes the property as 'custom_name' in JSON. This mirrors similar annotations in other JSON libraries but is part of the JSON-B standard.

Yasson vs Jackson: which one should I choose for my Java project?

Choose Yasson if you need strict JSON-B compliance, especially in Jakarta EE environments, as it's the reference implementation. Jackson offers more features, better performance, and a larger ecosystem, but Yasson provides a cleaner, standards-based approach with less vendor lock-in.

Does Yasson support handling polymorphic types or inheritance?

Yes, Yasson supports polymorphism through annotations like @JsonbSubtype and @JsonbTypeInfo, allowing you to manage inheritance hierarchies in JSON serialization. However, setup can be more complex compared to Jackson's @JsonTypeInfo.

How can I include null values in JSON output with Yasson?

Configure it programmatically using JsonbConfig: create an instance with .withNullValues(true) and pass it to JsonbBuilder.create(config). This ensures null properties are serialized, though it might increase JSON size unnecessarily in some cases.

Is Yasson compatible with Spring Boot out of the box?

No, Spring Boot defaults to Jackson for JSON processing. You can integrate Yasson by adding it as a dependency and manually configuring it as the JSON-B provider, but this requires extra setup and may conflict with existing Jackson configurations.

What are the performance benchmarks for Yasson compared to Gson?

Yasson and Gson have similar performance for standard use cases, but Jackson often benchmarks faster in high-throughput tests. For most applications, the difference is minor, but if performance is critical, consider profiling with your specific data models.

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Yasson

NOASSERTIONJava3.0.4

A Java framework providing a standard binding layer between Java classes and JSON documents, implementing JSON-B (JSR-367).

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What is Yasson?

Eclipse Yasson is a Java framework that provides a standard binding layer between Java classes and JSON documents, implementing the JSON-B specification (JSR-367). It solves the problem of converting Java objects to JSON and vice versa with both default mappings and extensive customization options.

Target Audience

Java developers building applications that require JSON serialization and deserialization, particularly those working within the Jakarta EE ecosystem or needing standards-compliant JSON binding.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Yasson because it is the official reference implementation of JSON-B, ensuring compliance with the specification, while offering a balance of ease-of-use with default mappings and powerful customization through annotations and a programmatic API.

Overview

Eclipse Yasson project

Use Cases

Best For

Implementing JSON serialization in Jakarta EE applications
Converting Java objects to JSON with minimal configuration
Customizing JSON mapping using annotations
Programmatically configuring JSON binding behavior
Ensuring standards compliance with JSON-B (JSR-367)
Replacing JAXB-like functionality for JSON in Java projects

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring ultra-high performance JSON processing with streaming or low-latency needs
Teams already deeply integrated with Jackson or Gson and unwilling to migrate custom serializers
Applications that demand extensive third-party integrations or plugins beyond the JSON-B specification
Lightweight microservices where minimal dependency footprint is more critical than standards compliance

Pros & Cons

Pros

Standards Compliance

As the official reference implementation of JSON-B (JSR-367), Yasson ensures full specification adherence, making it reliable for Jakarta EE and enterprise applications.

Sensible Default Mapping

Automatically converts Java objects to JSON with minimal configuration, as shown in the default JsonbBuilder.create() example, reducing boilerplate for common cases.

Rich Customization Options

Supports annotations and a programmatic API for fine-grained control over serialization, allowing developers to tailor JSON binding to complex scenarios.

JAXB-like Familiarity

Provides a similar binding layer for JSON as JAXB does for XML, easing the transition for developers experienced with XML-based systems.

Cons

Limited Ecosystem

Compared to Jackson or Gson, Yasson has fewer community plugins, extensions, and integrations, which can hinder adoption in projects relying on third-party tools.

Performance Trade-offs

As a spec-focused implementation, it may not be optimized for raw speed in high-volume scenarios, where libraries like Jackson often outperform in benchmarks.

Verbose Advanced Configuration

The programmatic API for complex customizations can be cumbersome and require deep knowledge of the JSON-B specification, increasing the learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

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