Notification (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.management.Notification class
Date: 2026-01-21

compact3
javax.management

## Class Notification

- java.lang.Object
- - java.util.EventObject
  - - javax.management.Notification

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    AttributeChangeNotification, JMXConnectionNotification, MBeanServerNotification, MonitorNotification, RelationNotification, TimerNotification

      public class Notification
      extends EventObject

  The Notification class represents a notification emitted by an MBean. It contains a reference to the source MBean: if the notification has been forwarded through the MBean server, and the original source of the notification was a reference to the emitting MBean object, then the MBean server replaces it by the MBean's ObjectName. If the listener has registered directly with the MBean, this is either the object name or a direct reference to the MBean.

  It is strongly recommended that notification senders use the object name rather than a reference to the MBean object as the source.

  The serialVersionUID of this class is `-7516092053498031989L`.

  Since:
    1.5
  See Also:
    Serialized Form

- - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected Object` | `source` This field hides the `EventObject.source` field in the parent class to make it non-transient and therefore part of the serialized form.

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `Notification(String type, Object source, long sequenceNumber)` Creates a Notification object.
    `Notification(String type, Object source, long sequenceNumber, long timeStamp)` Creates a Notification object.
    `Notification(String type, Object source, long sequenceNumber, long timeStamp, String message)` Creates a Notification object.
    `Notification(String type, Object source, long sequenceNumber, String message)` Creates a Notification object.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `String` | `getMessage()` Get the notification message.
    `long` | `getSequenceNumber()` Get the notification sequence number.
    `long` | `getTimeStamp()` Get the notification timestamp.
    `String` | `getType()` Get the notification type.
    `Object` | `getUserData()` Get the user data.
    `void` | `setSequenceNumber(long sequenceNumber)` Set the notification sequence number.
    `void` | `setSource(Object source)` Sets the source.
    `void` | `setTimeStamp(long timeStamp)` Set the notification timestamp.
    `void` | `setUserData(Object userData)` Set the user data.
    `String` | `toString()` Returns a String representation of this notification.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.util.EventObject

      `getSource`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### source

          protected Object source

      This field hides the `EventObject.source` field in the parent class to make it non-transient and therefore part of the serialized form.

  - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### Notification

          public Notification(String type,
                              Object source,
                              long sequenceNumber)

      Creates a Notification object. The notification timeStamp is set to the current date.
      Parameters:
        `type` - The notification type.
        `source` - The notification source.
        `sequenceNumber` - The notification sequence number within the source object.

    - #### Notification

          public Notification(String type,
                              Object source,
                              long sequenceNumber,
                              String message)

      Creates a Notification object. The notification timeStamp is set to the current date.
      Parameters:
        `type` - The notification type.
        `source` - The notification source.
        `sequenceNumber` - The notification sequence number within the source object.
        `message` - The detailed message.

    - #### Notification

          public Notification(String type,
                              Object source,
                              long sequenceNumber,
                              long timeStamp)

      Creates a Notification object.
      Parameters:
        `type` - The notification type.
        `source` - The notification source.
        `sequenceNumber` - The notification sequence number within the source object.
        `timeStamp` - The notification emission date.

    - #### Notification

          public Notification(String type,
                              Object source,
                              long sequenceNumber,
                              long timeStamp,
                              String message)

      Creates a Notification object.
      Parameters:
        `type` - The notification type.
        `source` - The notification source.
        `sequenceNumber` - The notification sequence number within the source object.
        `timeStamp` - The notification emission date.
        `message` - The detailed message.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### setSource

          public void setSource(Object source)

      Sets the source.
      Parameters:
        `source` - the new source for this object.
      See Also:
        `EventObject.getSource()`

    - #### getSequenceNumber

          public long getSequenceNumber()

      Get the notification sequence number.
      Returns:
        The notification sequence number within the source object. It's a serial number identifying a particular instance of notification in the context of the notification source. The notification model does not assume that notifications will be received in the same order that they are sent. The sequence number helps listeners to sort received notifications.
      See Also:
        `setSequenceNumber(long)`

    - #### setSequenceNumber

          public void setSequenceNumber(long sequenceNumber)

      Set the notification sequence number.
      Parameters:
        `sequenceNumber` - The notification sequence number within the source object. It is a serial number identifying a particular instance of notification in the context of the notification source.
      See Also:
        `getSequenceNumber()`

    - #### getType

          public String getType()

      Get the notification type.
      Returns:
        The notification type. It's a string expressed in a dot notation similar to Java properties. It is recommended that the notification type should follow the reverse-domain-name convention used by Java package names. An example of a notification type is com.example.alarm.router.

    - #### getTimeStamp

          public long getTimeStamp()

      Get the notification timestamp.
      Returns:
        The notification timestamp.
      See Also:
        `setTimeStamp(long)`

    - #### setTimeStamp

          public void setTimeStamp(long timeStamp)

      Set the notification timestamp.
      Parameters:
        `timeStamp` - The notification timestamp. It indicates when the notification was generated.
      See Also:
        `getTimeStamp()`

    - #### getMessage

          public String getMessage()

      Get the notification message.
      Returns:
        The message string of this notification object.

    - #### getUserData

          public Object getUserData()

      Get the user data.
      Returns:
        The user data object. It is used for whatever data the notification source wishes to communicate to its consumers.
      See Also:
        `setUserData(java.lang.Object)`

    - #### setUserData

          public void setUserData(Object userData)

      Set the user data.
      Parameters:
        `userData` - The user data object. It is used for whatever data the notification source wishes to communicate to its consumers.
      See Also:
        `getUserData()`

    - #### toString

          public String toString()

      Returns a String representation of this notification.
      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `EventObject`
      Returns:
        A String representation of this notification.

Submit a bug or feature
For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java SE Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.
Copyright © 1993, 2026, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms. Also see the documentation redistribution policy.