---
title: Optimizing Java packages for Dependabot updates
intro: 'By including metadata in your `pom.xml` file, you can enhance the information available to users in {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot%} pull requests to update your Java packages.'
shortTitle: Optimize Java packages # Max 31 characters
allowTitleToDifferFromFilename: true
versions:
  fpt: '*'
  ghec: '*'
  ghes: '*'
type: how_to
topics:
  - Dependabot
  - Dependencies
  - Repositories
---

{% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} uses the information defined in `pom.xml` files to create pull requests to update Java dependencies for the Gradle and Maven ecosystems. When you include the project metadata that {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} expects, pull requests contain links to the release notes for the suggested package update and a link where users can report any issues. This information means that users can update their packages with confidence after reviewing all the release information.

## Including the metadata {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} needs in pom.xml files

{% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} uses the URLs for the project, the source code management system, and the issue management system to build the summary for update pull requests.

* `url` the home page for the project, see [More Project Information](https://maven.apache.org/pom.html#More_Project_Information) in the POM reference
* `scm` the URL of the source code management system used by the project, see [SCM](https://maven.apache.org/pom.html#scm) in the POM Reference
* `issueManagement` the URL of the issue management system used by the project, see [Issue Management](https://maven.apache.org/pom.html#issue-management) in the POM Reference

### Example for a project hosted on {% data variables.product.github %}

```xml
<project>
  <url>https://github.com/OWNER/REPOSITORY</url>
  <scm>
    <url>https://github.com/OWNER/REPOSITORY</url>
  </scm>
  <issueManagement>
    <url>https://github.com/OWNER/REPOSITORY/issues</url>
  </issueManagement>
</project>
```

Replace `OWNER` and `REPOSITORY` with the detailed for your project.

## Impact of omitting project metadata from pom.xml files

If you forget to include the URLs that {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} checks for, then pull requests to update Java packages are still created. However, the information available to users in the pull request summary will be limited.

* **Project repository or Source code management URL undefined:** no links to release notes in {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} pull requests
* **Issue management URL undefined:** no link to the issues page for reporting problems.

Adding this information helps {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} provide better, more accurate updates for your project, complete with helpful links to release notes and issue trackers.

## Further reading

* [Maven SCM Plugin](https://maven.apache.org/scm/maven-scm-plugin/)