# Overview
This project contains core low-level incremental ("streaming") parser and generator abstractions used by
[Jackson Data Processor](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson).
It also includes the default implementation of handler types (parser, generator) that handle JSON format.
The core abstractions are not JSON specific, although naming does contain 'JSON' in many places, due to historical reasons. Only packages that specifically contain word 'json' are JSON-specific.
This package is the base on which [Jackson data-binding](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind) package builds on.
It is licensed under [Apache License 2.0](https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
Alternate data format implementations (like
[Smile (binary JSON)](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-dataformats-binary/tree/master/smile),
[XML](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-dataformat-xml),
[CSV](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-dataformats-text/tree/master/csv),
[Protobuf](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-dataformats-binary/tree/master/protobuf),
and [CBOR](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-dataformats-binary/tree/master/cbor))
also build on this base package, implementing the core interfaces,
making it possible to use standard [data-binding package](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind) regardless of underlying data format.
Project contains versions 2.0 and above: source code for earlier (1.x) versions can be found from
[Jackson-1](../../../jackson-1) github repo.
## Status
| Type | Status |
| ---- | ------ |
| Build (CI) | [](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-core/actions/workflows/main.yml) |
| Artifact | [](https://maven-badges.herokuapp.com/maven-central/com.fasterxml.jackson.core/jackson-core) |
| OSS Sponsorship | [](https://tidelift.com/subscription/pkg/maven-com-fasterxml-jackson-core-jackson-core?utm_source=maven-com-fasterxml-jackson-core-jackson-core&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=readme) |
| Javadocs | [](https://javadoc.io/doc/com.fasterxml.jackson.core/jackson-core) |
| Code coverage (2.13) | [](https://codecov.io/github/FasterXML/jackson-core?branch=2.13) |
| CodeQ (LGTM.com) | [](https://lgtm.com/projects/g/FasterXML/jackson-core/alerts/) [](https://lgtm.com/projects/g/FasterXML/jackson-core/context:java) |
| CodeQ (ClusterFuzz) | [](https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/list?sort=-opened&can=1&q=proj:jackson-core) |
# Get it!
## Maven
Functionality of this package is contained in
Java package `com.fasterxml.jackson.core`.
To use the package, you need to use following Maven dependency:
```xml
<dependency>
<groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
<artifactId>jackson-core</artifactId>
<version>${jackson.version.core}</version>
</dependency>
```
or download jars from Maven repository or links on [Wiki](../../wiki).
Core jar is a functional OSGi bundle, with proper import/export declarations.
Package has no external dependencies, except for testing (which uses `JUnit`).
## Non-Maven
For non-Maven use cases, you download jars from [Central Maven repository](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/fasterxml/jackson/core/jackson-core/).
Core jar is also a functional OSGi bundle, with proper import/export declarations, so it can be use on OSGi container as is.
Jackson 2.10 and above include `module-info.class` definitions so the jar is also a proper Java module (JPMS).
Jackson 2.12 and above include additional Gradle 6 Module Metadata for version alignment with Gradle.
-----
# Use it!
## General
Usage typically starts with creation of a reusable (and thread-safe, once configured) `JsonFactory` instance:
```java
// Builder-style since 2.10:
JsonFactory factory = JsonFactory.builder()
// configure, if necessary:
.enable(JsonReadFeature.ALLOW_JAVA_COMMENTS)
.build();
// older 2.x mechanism, still supported for 2.x
JsonFactory factory = new JsonFactory();
// configure, if necessary:
factory.enable(JsonReadFeature.ALLOW_JAVA_COMMENTS);
```
Alternatively, you have an `ObjectMapper` (from [Jackson Databind package](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind)) handy; if so, you can do:
```java
JsonFactory factory = objectMapper.getFactory();
```
## Usage, simple reading
All reading is by using `JsonParser` (or its sub-classes, in case of data formats other than JSON),
instance of which is constructed by `JsonFactory`.
An example can be found from [Reading and Writing Event Streams](http://www.cowtowncoder.com/blog/archives/2009/01/entry_132.html)
## Usage, simple writing
All writing is by using `JsonGenerator` (or its sub-classes, in case of data formats other than JSON),
instance of which is constructed by `JsonFactory`:
An example can be found from [Reading and Writing Event Streams](http://www.cowtowncoder.com/blog/archives/2009/01/entry_132.html)
-----
## Support
### Community support
Jackson components are supported by the Jackson community through mailing lists, Gitter forum, Github issues. See [Participation, Contributing](../../../jackson#participation-contributing) for full details.
### Enterprise support
Available as part of the Tidelift Subscription.
The maintainers of `jackson-core` and thousands of other packages are working with Tidelift to deliver commercial support and maintenance for the open source dependencies you use to build your applications. Save time, reduce risk, and improve code health, while paying the maintainers of the exact dependencies you use. [Learn more.](https://tidelift.com/subscription/pkg/maven-com-fasterxml-jackson-core-jackson-core?utm_source=maven-com-fasterxml-jackson-core-jackson-core&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=enterprise&utm_term=repo)
-----
# Further reading
## Differences from Jackson 1.x
Project contains versions 2.0 and above: source code for the latest 1.x version (1.9.13) is available from
[FasterXML/jackson-1](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-1) repo (unmaintained).
Note that the main differences compared to 1.0 core jar are:
* Maven build instead of Ant
* Annotations carved out to a separate package (that this package depends on)
* Java package is now `com.fasterxml.jackson.core` (instead of `org.codehaus.jackson`)
## Links
* Project [Wiki](../../wiki) has JavaDocs and links to downloadable artifacts
* [Jackson (portal)](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson) has links to all FasterXML-maintained "official" Jackson components
* [Jackson Docs](https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-docs) is the portal/hub for all kinds of Jackson documentation