Target (Java Platform SE 7 ) (original) (raw)

@Documented
@Retention(value=RUNTIME)
@Target(value=ANNOTATION_TYPE)
public @interface Target
Indicates the kinds of program element to which an annotation type is applicable. If a Target meta-annotation is not present on an annotation type declaration, the declared type may be used on any program element. If such a meta-annotation is present, the compiler will enforce the specified usage restriction. For example, this meta-annotation indicates that the declared type is itself a meta-annotation type. It can only be used on annotation type declarations:
@Target(ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE)
public @interface MetaAnnotationType {
...
}

This meta-annotation indicates that the declared type is intended solely for use as a member type in complex annotation type declarations. It cannot be used to annotate anything directly:
@Target({})
public @interface MemberType {
...
}

It is a compile-time error for a single ElementType constant to appear more than once in a Target annotation. For example, the following meta-annotation is illegal:
@Target({ElementType.FIELD, ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.FIELD})
public @interface Bogus {
...
}

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