StackOverflow2013

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POSpecification and correct use of (boolean) URI matrix parameters (and making them optional when using CXF/JAXB)?
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copied!<p>I was wondering if the "proper" use of URI/URL <strong>matrix parameters</strong> was ever defined in a specification, such as an RFC or a W3 recommendation?</p> <p>In particular, I just joined a project where we use matrix parameters and a Java framework to implement a REST service. One of the matrix parameters we have for our REST service is a boolean one, much like <code>;sortByDate=true</code></p> <p>What bugged me about this one is that the Java framework we use apparently insists that boolean parameters are always passed in (i.e. you cannot make them optional/omit them; probably because they are converted to Java boolean type). I think that's a bit odd...</p> <p>I have to doublecheck what framework we use tomorrow (I think it is JAXB), but in the meantime I wondered if matrix parameters were defined in an official specification somewhere, and if such a specification made any mention of boolean parameters.</p> <p>So far I found a hint (though no mention of boolean matrix parameters) in <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/appendix/notes.html#h-B.2.2" rel="nofollow">Appendix B 2.2</a> of the W3's "<strong>HTML 4.01 Specification</strong>":</p> <blockquote> <p>We recommend that HTTP server implementors, and in particular, CGI implementors support the use of ";" in place of "&" to save authors the trouble of escaping "&" characters in this manner.</p> </blockquote> <p>And the "<strong><a href="http://www.w3.org/Submission/wadl/#x3-130002.6.1" rel="nofollow">Web Application Description Language</a></strong>" specification specifies:</p> <blockquote> <p>Boolean matrix parameters are represented as: '<code>;</code>' <code>name</code> when <code>value</code> is <code>true</code> and are omitted from <code>identifier</code> when <code>value</code> is <code>false</code></p> </blockquote> <p>What I haven't found is "<strong><em>the</em></strong>" specification for matrix parameters. Is there any? Does it mention how boolean matrix parameters should be used? If not, is there an established best practice?</p> <p>And, as a bonus question: can you omit boolean URL matrix parameters when using CXF (JAXB), or do you always have to specify them?</p> <p>Cheers! :)</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> We're using <a href="http://cxf.apache.org/" rel="nofollow">CXF</a> (which apparently uses JAXB under the hood...)</p>

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