Java 11 package javax.xml.soap does not exist

Question

I'm trying to create a simple message using SOAP:

MessageFactory mf = MessageFactory.newInstance();
SOAPMessage message = mf.createMessage();

When I build the project with Java 8 it's fine, but building it with Java 11 fails with a compilation error:

package javax.xml.soap does not exist

How do I fix the issue?

Answer 1

JAX-WS removed from Java 11

JAX-WS is no longer bundled with Java 11.

According to the release notes, Java 11 removed the Java EE modules:

java.xml.ws (JAX-WS, plus the related technologies SAAJ and Web Services Metadata) - REMOVED

• Java 8 - OK
• Java 9 - DEPRECATED
• Java 10 - DEPRECATED
• Java 11 - REMOVED

See JEP 320 for more info.

You can fix the issue by using alternate versions of the Java EE technologies. Simply add a com.sun.xml.ws : jaxws-ri Maven artifact that contains the technologies you need:

<dependency>
  <groupId>com.sun.xml.ws</groupId>
  <artifactId>jaxws-ri</artifactId>
  <version>2.3.2</version>
  <type>pom</type>
</dependency>

Jakarta EE 8 update (Mar 2020)

Instead of using old JAX-WS module you can fix the issue by using Jakarta XML Web Services from Jakarta EE 8:

<dependency>
  <groupId>jakarta.xml.ws</groupId>
  <artifactId>jakarta.xml.ws-api</artifactId>
  <version>2.3.3</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
  <groupId>com.sun.xml.ws</groupId>
  <artifactId>jaxws-rt</artifactId>
  <version>2.3.3</version>
  <scope>runtime</scope>
</dependency>

Jakarta EE 9 update (Nov 2020)

Use latest release of Jakarta XML Web Services 3.0:

• Jakarta EE9 API jakarta.xml.ws-api
• compatible implementation jaxws-rt

<dependency>
  <groupId>jakarta.xml.ws</groupId>
  <artifactId>jakarta.xml.ws-api</artifactId>
  <version>3.0.0</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
  <groupId>com.sun.xml.ws</groupId>
  <artifactId>jaxws-rt</artifactId>
  <version>3.0.0</version>
  <scope>runtime</scope>
</dependency>

Note: change javax.* imports to jakarta.*