Open Source XML Semantic Validator Java Library Using a Rule Configuration File

Abstract

This paper researches about developing methodology and implementing it using Java, which can be used to apply a layer of semantic validation to XML data. XML standard is the most widely used technique to move structured information from place to place or from one program to another in business integrations. A well-formed XML document is essential in these integrations and XML schema defines how XML should be structured. Although XML schema provides syntax validations, it lacks business level data validations. This project delivers a methodology which is capable of validations beyond the capabilities of XML schema validation. This methodology comprised of two core modules, rule configuration file and validation library. All the business validation logics must be defined in a simple rule configuration file, which is used by Java library to validate against XML data. This library also provides preliminary XML schema validation feature combined with intended purpose of comprehensive business logic validations. This approach provides important feature of dynamic loading of rules, enabling users to modify rules while library is processing continuous stream of XML data. Methodology implemented in this project eliminates many code lines required to customize business logic validations and hence will save developer time. Also detail level of validation errors can be used to detect failures quickly and accurately. Finally the performance of library is excellent which proves the feasibility of using it to real world XML data validation requirements.