javax.xml.messaging

## Interface ProviderConnection

    public interface ProviderConnection

A client's active connection to its messaging provider.

A `ProviderConnection` object is created using a `ProviderConnectionFactory` object, which is configured so that the connections it creates will be to a particular messaging provider. To create a connection, a client first needs to obtain an instance of the `ProviderConnectionFactory` class that creates connections to the desired messaging provider. The client then calls the `createConnection` method on it.

The information necessary to set up a `ProviderConnectionFactory` object that creates connections to a particular messaging provider is supplied at deployment time. Typically an instance of `ProviderConnectionFactory` will be bound to a logical name in a naming service. Later the client can do a lookup on the logical name to retrieve an instance of the `ProviderConnectionFactory` class that produces connections to its messaging provider.

The following code fragment is an example of a client doing a lookup of a `ProviderConnectionFactory` object and then using it to create a connection. The first two lines in this example use the JavaTM Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) to create a context, which is then used to do the lookup. The argument provided to the `lookup` method is the logical name that was previously associated with the desired messaging provider. The `lookup` method returns a Java `Object`, which needs to be cast to a `ProviderConnectionFactory` object before it can be used to create a connection. In the following code fragment, the resulting `ProviderConnection` object is a connection to the messaging provider that is associated with the logical name "ProviderXYZ".

        Context ctx = new InitialContext();
        ProviderConnectionFactory pcf = (ProviderConnectionFactory)ctx.lookup("ProviderXYZ");
        ProviderConnection con = pcf.createConnection();

After the client has obtained a connection to its messaging provider, it can use that connection to create one or more `MessageFactory` objects, which can then be used to create `SOAPMessage` objects. Messages are delivered to an endpoint using the `ProviderConnection` method `send`.

The messaging provider maintains a list of `Endpoint` objects, which is established at deployment time as part of configuring the messaging provider. When a client uses a messaging provider to send messages, it can send messages only to those parties represented by `Endpoint` objects in its messaging provider's list. This is true because the messaging provider maps the URI for each `Endpoint` object to a URL.

Note that it is possible for a client to send a message without using a messaging provider. In this case, the client uses a `SOAPConnection` object to send point-to-point messages via the method `call`. This method takes an `Endpoint` object (actually a `URLEndpoint` object) that specifies the URL where the message is to be sent. See `SOAPConnection` and `URLEndpoint` for more information.

Typically, because clients have one messaging provider, they will do all their messaging with a single `ProviderConnection` object. It is possible, however, for a sophisticated application to use multiple connections.

Generally, a container is configured with a listener component at deployment time using an implementation-specific mechanism. A client running in such a container uses a `OnewayListener` object to receive messages asynchronously. In this scenario, messages are sent via the `ProviderConnection` method `send`. A client running in a container that wants to receive synchronous messages uses a `ReqRespListener` object. A `ReqRespListener` object receives messages sent via the `SOAPConnection` method `call`.

Due to the authentication and communication setup done when a `ProviderConnection` object is created, it is a relatively heavy-weight object. Therefore, a client should close its connection as soon as it is done using it.

JAXM objects created using one `ProviderConnection` object cannot be used with a different `ProviderConnection` object.

### Method Summary

Methods
`void` `close()` Closes this `ProviderConnection` object, freeing its resources and making it immediately available for garbage collection.
`javax.xml.soap.MessageFactory` `createMessageFactory(java.lang.String profile)` Creates a `MessageFactory` object that will produce `SOAPMessage` objects for the given profile.
`ProviderMetaData` `getMetaData()` Retrieves the `ProviderMetaData` object that contains information about the messaging provider to which this `ProviderConnection` object is connected.
`void` `send(javax.xml.soap.SOAPMessage message)` Sends the given `SOAPMessage` object and returns immediately after handing the message over to the messaging provider.

### Method Detail

#### getMetaData

    ProviderMetaData getMetaData()
                                 throws JAXMException

Retrieves the `ProviderMetaData` object that contains information about the messaging provider to which this `ProviderConnection` object is connected.

Returns:
  the `ProviderMetaData` object with information about the messaging provider
Throws:
  `JAXMException` - if there is a problem getting the `ProviderMetaData` object
See Also:
  `ProviderMetaData`

#### close

    void close()
               throws JAXMException

Closes this `ProviderConnection` object, freeing its resources and making it immediately available for garbage collection. Since a provider typically allocates significant resources outside the JVM on behalf of a connection, clients should close connections when they are not needed. Relying on garbage collection to eventually reclaim these resources may not be timely enough.

Throws:
  `JAXMException` - if a JAXM error occurs while closing the connection.

#### createMessageFactory

    javax.xml.soap.MessageFactory createMessageFactory(java.lang.String profile)
                                                       throws JAXMException

Creates a `MessageFactory` object that will produce `SOAPMessage` objects for the given profile. The `MessageFactory` object that is returned can create instances of `SOAPMessage` subclasses as appropriate for the given profile.

Parameters:
  `profile` - a string that represents a particular JAXM profile in use. An example of a JAXM profile is: "ebxml".
Returns:
  a new `MessageFactory` object that will create `SOAPMessage` objects for the given profile
Throws:
  `JAXMException` - if the JAXM infrastructure encounters an error, for example, if the endpoint that is being used is not compatible with the specified profile

#### send

    void send(javax.xml.soap.SOAPMessage message)
              throws JAXMException

Sends the given `SOAPMessage` object and returns immediately after handing the message over to the messaging provider. No assumptions can be made regarding the ultimate success or failure of message delivery at the time this method returns.

Parameters:
  `message` - the `SOAPMessage` object that is to be sent asynchronously over this `ProviderConnection` object
Throws:
  `JAXMException` - if a JAXM transmission error occurs