org.apache.commons.lang3

## Class AnnotationUtils

- java.lang.Object
- - org.apache.commons.lang3.AnnotationUtils

-     public class AnnotationUtils
      extends Object

  Helper methods for working with `Annotation` instances.

  This class contains various utility methods that make working with annotations simpler.

  `Annotation` instances are always proxy objects; unfortunately dynamic proxies cannot be depended upon to know how to implement certain methods in the same manner as would be done by "natural" `Annotation`s. The methods presented in this class can be used to avoid that possibility. It is of course also possible for dynamic proxies to actually delegate their e.g. `Annotation.equals(Object)`/`Annotation.hashCode()`/ `Annotation.toString()` implementations to `AnnotationUtils`.

  #ThreadSafe#

  Since:
    3.0
  Version:
    $Id: AnnotationUtils.java 1436770 2013-01-22 07:09:45Z ggregory $

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `AnnotationUtils()` `AnnotationUtils` instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `static boolean` | `equals(Annotation a1, Annotation a2)` Checks if two annotations are equal using the criteria for equality presented in the `Annotation.equals(Object)` API docs.
    `static int` | `hashCode(Annotation a)` Generate a hash code for the given annotation using the algorithm presented in the `Annotation.hashCode()` API docs.
    `static boolean` | `isValidAnnotationMemberType(Class<?> type)` Checks if the specified type is permitted as an annotation member.
    `static String` | `toString(Annotation a)` Generate a string representation of an Annotation, as suggested by `Annotation.toString()`.

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

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

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### AnnotationUtils

          public AnnotationUtils()

      `AnnotationUtils` instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming. Instead, the class should be used statically.

      This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance to operate.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### equals

          public static boolean equals(Annotation a1,
                       Annotation a2)

      Checks if two annotations are equal using the criteria for equality presented in the `Annotation.equals(Object)` API docs.

      Parameters:
        `a1` - the first Annotation to compare, `null` returns `false` unless both are `null`
        `a2` - the second Annotation to compare, `null` returns `false` unless both are `null`
      Returns:
        `true` if the two annotations are `equal` or both `null`

    - #### hashCode

          public static int hashCode(Annotation a)

      Generate a hash code for the given annotation using the algorithm presented in the `Annotation.hashCode()` API docs.

      Parameters:
        `a` - the Annotation for a hash code calculation is desired, not `null`
      Returns:
        the calculated hash code
      Throws:
        `RuntimeException` - if an `Exception` is encountered during annotation member access
        `IllegalStateException` - if an annotation method invocation returns `null`

    - #### toString

          public static String toString(Annotation a)

      Generate a string representation of an Annotation, as suggested by `Annotation.toString()`.

      Parameters:
        `a` - the annotation of which a string representation is desired
      Returns:
        the standard string representation of an annotation, not `null`

    - #### isValidAnnotationMemberType

          public static boolean isValidAnnotationMemberType(Class<?> type)

      Checks if the specified type is permitted as an annotation member.

      The Java language specification only permits certain types to be used in annotations. These include `String`, `Class`, primitive types, `Annotation`, `Enum`, and single-dimensional arrays of these types.

      Parameters:
        `type` - the type to check, `null`
      Returns:
        `true` if the type is a valid type to use in an annotation

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