XQuery API for Java

XQuery API for Java (XQJ) refers to the common Java API for the W3C XQuery 1.0 specification.

The XQJ API enables Java programmers to execute XQuery against an XML data source (e.g. an XML database) while reducing or eliminating vendor lock in.

The XQJ API provides Java developers with an interface to the XQuery Data Model. Its design is similar to the JDBC API which has a client/server feel and as such lends itself well to Server-based XML Databases and less well to client-side XQuery processors, although the "connection" part is a very minor part of the entire API. Users of the XQJ API can bind Java values to XQuery expressions, preventing code injection attacks. Also, multiple XQuery expressions can be executed as part of an atomic transaction.

The XQuery API for Java was developed at the Java Community Process as JSR 225. It had some big technology backers such as Oracle,IBM,BEA Systems,Software AG,Intel, Nokia and DataDirect.

Version 1.0 of the XQuery API for Java Specification was released on June 24, 2009, along with JavaDocs, a reference implementation and a TCK (Technology Compatibility Kit) which implementing vendors must conform to.