This package defines several extensions to the StAX API, more precisely for the {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader} and {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamWriter} classes. The reader or writer wishing to support the extension MAY implement the corresponding interface directly, but a consumer MUST use the property mechanism to get a reference to this extension interface, i.e. it MUST call {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader#getProperty(String)} or {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamWriter#getProperty(String)}. Each of the extension interfaces in this package defines a constant for the property name to use.

The rationale for this requirement is that a property based approach continues to work even if the stream implementing the extension is accessed indirectly through a proxy implementing the {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader} or {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamWriter} interface but unaware of the extensions defined in this package. Note that this assumes that the proxy correctly delegates calls to the getProperty methods.

The property returning the extension interface MUST be available regardless of the current state of the stream. In addition it is assumed to be immutable, i.e. its value MUST NOT not change during the lifetime of the {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamReader} or {@link javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamWriter} implementation. For a consumer it is therefore sufficient to look up the extension once and to continue using the obtained reference during the entire lifetime of the stream.