http://github.com/FasterXML/jackson: Core annotations used for value types, used by Jackson data binding package. (FasterXML)
  • Tatu Saloranta 
package com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation;

import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
import java.lang.annotation.Target;


Marker annotation that can be used to define constructors and factory
methods as one to use for instantiating new instances of the associated
class.


NOTE: when annotating creator methods (constructors, factory methods),
method must either be:

    

  • Single-argument constructor/factory method without JsonProperty annotation for the argument: if so, this is so-called "delegate creator", in which case Jackson first binds JSON into type of the argument, and then calls creator. This is often used in conjunction with JsonValue (used for serialization). 
    • 

  • Constructor/factory method where every argument is annotated with either JsonProperty or JacksonInject, to indicate name of property to bind to 
    • 

 Also note that all JsonProperty annotations must specify actual name (NOT empty String for "default") unless you use one of extension modules that can detect parameter name; this because default JDK versions before 8 have not been able to store and/or retrieve parameter names from bytecode. But with JDK 8 (or using helper libraries such as Paranamer, or other JVM languages like Scala or Kotlin), specifying name is optional. 

One common use case is to use a delegating Creator to construct instances from
scalar values (like java.lang.String) during deserialization, and serialize values using JsonValue. 
 NOTE: As of Jackson 2.6, use of JsonProperty.required() is supported for Creator methods (but not necessarily for regular setters or fields!). 
See Also:
/**
 * Marker annotation that can be used to define constructors and factory
 * methods as one to use for instantiating new instances of the associated
 * class.
 *<p>
 * NOTE: when annotating creator methods (constructors, factory methods),
 * method must either be:
 *<ul>
 * <li>Single-argument constructor/factory method without {@link JsonProperty}
 *    annotation for the argument: if so, this is so-called "delegate creator",
 *    in which case Jackson first binds JSON into type of the argument, and
 *    then calls creator. This is often used in conjunction with {@link JsonValue}
 *    (used for serialization).
 *   </li>
 * <li>Constructor/factory method where <b>every argument</b> is annotated with
 *   either {@link JsonProperty} or {@link JacksonInject}, to indicate name
 *   of property to bind to
 *  </li>
 * </ul>
 * Also note that all {@link JsonProperty} annotations must specify actual name
 * (NOT empty String for "default") unless you use one of extension modules
 * that can detect parameter name; this because default JDK versions before 8
 * have not been able to store and/or retrieve parameter names from bytecode.
 * But with JDK 8 (or using helper libraries such as Paranamer, or other JVM
 * languages like Scala or Kotlin), specifying name is optional.
 *<p>
 * One common use case is to use a delegating Creator to construct instances from
 * scalar values (like <code>java.lang.String</code>) during deserialization,
 * and serialize values using {@link JsonValue}.
 *<p>
 * NOTE: As of Jackson 2.6, use of {@link JsonProperty#required()} is supported
 * for Creator methods (but not necessarily for regular setters or fields!).
 * 
 * @see JsonProperty
 */
@Target({ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE, ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR})
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@JacksonAnnotation
public @interface JsonCreator
{
    
Property that is used to indicate how argument(s) is/are bound for creator, in cases there may be multiple alternatives. Currently the one case is that of a single-argument creator method, for which both so-called "delegating" and "property-based" bindings are possible: since delegating mode can not be used for multi-argument creators, the only choice there is "property-based" mode. Check Mode for more complete explanation of possible choices. 
 Default value of Mode.DEFAULT means that caller is to use standard heuristics for choosing mode to use. 
Since:2.5
/**
     * Property that is used to indicate how argument(s) is/are bound for creator,
     * in cases there may be multiple alternatives. Currently the one case is that
     * of a single-argument creator method, for which both so-called "delegating" and
     * "property-based" bindings are possible: since
     * delegating mode can not be used for multi-argument creators, the only choice
     * there is "property-based" mode.
     * Check {@link Mode} for more complete explanation of possible choices.
     *<p>
     * Default value of {@link Mode#DEFAULT} means that caller is to use standard
     * heuristics for choosing mode to use.
     * 
     * @since 2.5
     */
    public Mode mode() default Mode.DEFAULT;

    
Since:2.5
/**
     * @since 2.5
     */
    public enum Mode {
        
Pseudo-mode that indicates that caller is to use default heuristics for
choosing mode to use. This typically favors use of delegating mode for
single-argument creators that take structured types.

/**
         * Pseudo-mode that indicates that caller is to use default heuristics for
         * choosing mode to use. This typically favors use of delegating mode for
         * single-argument creators that take structured types.
         */
        DEFAULT,

        
Mode that indicates that if creator takes a single argument, the whole incoming
data value is to be bound into declared type of that argument; this "delegate"
value is then passed as the argument to creator.

/**
         * Mode that indicates that if creator takes a single argument, the whole incoming
         * data value is to be bound into declared type of that argument; this "delegate"
         * value is then passed as the argument to creator.
         */
        DELEGATING,

        
Mode that indicates that the argument(s) for creator are to be bound from matching
properties of incoming Object value, using creator argument names (explicit or implicit)
to match incoming Object properties to arguments.


Note that this mode is currently (2.5) always used for multiple-argument creators;
the only ambiguous case is that of a single-argument creator.

/**
         * Mode that indicates that the argument(s) for creator are to be bound from matching
         * properties of incoming Object value, using creator argument names (explicit or implicit)
         * to match incoming Object properties to arguments.
         *<p>
         * Note that this mode is currently (2.5) always used for multiple-argument creators;
         * the only ambiguous case is that of a single-argument creator.
         */
        PROPERTIES,

        
Pseudo-mode that indicates that creator is not to be used. This can be used as a result
value for explicit disabling, usually either by custom annotation introspector,
or by annotation mix-ins (for example when choosing different creator).

/**
         * Pseudo-mode that indicates that creator is not to be used. This can be used as a result
         * value for explicit disabling, usually either by custom annotation introspector,
         * or by annotation mix-ins (for example when choosing different creator).
         */
        DISABLED
    }
}