JAX-RS — Java API for RESTful Web Services
JAX-RS is the standard Java specification for building RESTful web services. Implementations include Jersey (reference) and RESTEasy, commonly used in Jakarta EE applications.
JAX-RS Annotations
@Path("/users")
@Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
public class UserResource {
@GET
@Path("/{id}")
public Response getUser(@PathParam("id") Long id) {
User user = userService.find(id);
return Response.ok(user).build();
}
@POST
@Consumes(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
public Response create(User user) {
User saved = userService.save(user);
return Response.status(201).entity(saved).build();
}
}JAX-RS vs Spring MVC
- JAX-RS — Jakarta EE standard, portable across app servers (WildFly, GlassFish).
- Spring MVC — Spring ecosystem, more popular for new projects and startups.
- Both support REST; Spring Boot is the dominant choice in US/UK/AU job markets.
- Learn JAX-RS for enterprise Jakarta EE maintenance roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JAX-RS still relevant?▼
Yes in enterprise Jakarta EE environments. For new projects, Spring Boot REST is more common, but JAX-RS knowledge transfers well.
