Annotation (Java SE 25 & JDK 25)
Description: declaration: module: java.base, package: java.lang.classfile, interface: Annotation
Keywords: java.lang.classfile.Annotation interface

# Interface Annotation

public sealed interface Annotation
Models an `annotation` structure (JVMS 4.7.16) or part of a `type_annotation` structure (JVMS 4.7.20). This model indicates the interface of the annotation and a set of element-value pairs.

This model can reconstruct an annotation, given the location of the modeled structure in the `class` file and the definition of the annotation interface.

Two `Annotation` objects should be compared using the `equals` method.

API Note:
  For Java programs, the location of the modeled structure indicates the source code element or type (JLS 9.7.4) on which the reconstructed annotation appears, and the annotation interface definition determines whether the reconstructed annotation has elements with default values (JLS 9.6.2), and whether the reconstructed annotation is a container annotation for multiple annotations (JLS 9.7.5).
Since:
  24
See Also:
  - `Annotation`
  - Annotations in core reflection
  - `TypeAnnotation`
  - `RuntimeVisibleAnnotationsAttribute`
  - `RuntimeInvisibleAnnotationsAttribute`
  - `RuntimeVisibleParameterAnnotationsAttribute`
  - `RuntimeInvisibleParameterAnnotationsAttribute`

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Utf8Entry`
  `className()`
  Returns the constant pool entry holding the descriptor string of the annotation interface.
  `default ClassDesc`
  `classSymbol()`
  Returns the annotation interface, as a symbolic descriptor.
  `List<AnnotationElement>`
  `elements()`
  Returns the element-value pairs of the annotation.
  `static Annotation`
  `of(Utf8Entry annotationClass, AnnotationElement... elements)`
  Returns an annotation.
  `static Annotation`
  `of(Utf8Entry annotationClass, List<AnnotationElement> elements)`
  Returns an annotation.
  `static Annotation`
  `of(ClassDesc annotationClass, AnnotationElement... elements)`
  Returns an annotation.
  `static Annotation`
  `of(ClassDesc annotationClass, List<AnnotationElement> elements)`
  Returns an annotation.

- ## Method Details

  - ### className

    Utf8Entry className()
    Returns the constant pool entry holding the descriptor string of the annotation interface.
    Returns:
      the constant pool entry holding the descriptor string of the annotation interface
    See Also:
      - `Annotation.annotationType()`

  - ### classSymbol

    default ClassDesc classSymbol()
    Returns the annotation interface, as a symbolic descriptor.
    Returns:
      the annotation interface, as a symbolic descriptor
    See Also:
      - `Annotation.annotationType()`

  - ### elements

    List<AnnotationElement> elements()
    Returns the element-value pairs of the annotation.
    Returns:
      the element-value pairs of the annotation

  - ### of

    static Annotation of(Utf8Entry annotationClass, List<AnnotationElement> elements)
    Returns an annotation.
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the constant pool entry holding the descriptor string of the annotation interface
      `elements` - the element-value pairs of the annotation
    Returns:
      an annotation

  - ### of

    static Annotation of(Utf8Entry annotationClass, AnnotationElement... elements)
    Returns an annotation.
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the constant pool entry holding the descriptor string of the annotation interface
      `elements` - the element-value pairs of the annotation
    Returns:
      an annotation

  - ### of

    static Annotation of(ClassDesc annotationClass, List<AnnotationElement> elements)
    Returns an annotation.
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the descriptor of the annotation interface
      `elements` - the element-value pairs of the annotation
    Returns:
      an annotation

  - ### of

    static Annotation of(ClassDesc annotationClass, AnnotationElement... elements)
    Returns an annotation.
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the descriptor of the annotation interface
      `elements` - the element-value pairs of the annotation
    Returns:
      an annotation