Java annotation: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:38, 22 January 2007

Revision as of 16:28, 31 January 2007

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In [[computer programming]], a '''Java annotation''' is a way of adding [[metadata]] to Java [[source code]] that iscan also be available to the programmer at [[run-time]]. Many times it is used as an alternative to [[XML]] technology.

Java annotations can be added to program elements such as classes, methods, fields, parameters, local variables, and packages. Unlike tags added to Java documentation and processed with tools such as [[XDoclet]], Java annotations are completely accessible to the programmer while the software is running using [[reflection (programming)|reflection]].