/*
 * Copyright 2002-2019 the original author or authors.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *      https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
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package org.springframework.lang;

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

import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
import javax.annotation.meta.TypeQualifierNickname;
import javax.annotation.meta.When;

A common Spring annotation to declare that annotated elements can be null under some circumstance.

Leverages JSR-305 meta-annotations to indicate nullability in Java to common tools with JSR-305 support and used by Kotlin to infer nullability of Spring API.

Should be used at parameter, return value, and field level. Methods override should repeat parent @Nullable annotations unless they behave differently.

Can be used in association with @NonNullApi or @NonNullFields to override the default non-nullable semantic to nullable.

Author:Sebastien Deleuze, Juergen Hoeller
See Also:
Since:5.0
/** * A common Spring annotation to declare that annotated elements can be {@code null} under * some circumstance. * * <p>Leverages JSR-305 meta-annotations to indicate nullability in Java to common * tools with JSR-305 support and used by Kotlin to infer nullability of Spring API. * * <p>Should be used at parameter, return value, and field level. Methods override should * repeat parent {@code @Nullable} annotations unless they behave differently. * * <p>Can be used in association with {@code @NonNullApi} or {@code @NonNullFields} to * override the default non-nullable semantic to nullable. * * @author Sebastien Deleuze * @author Juergen Hoeller * @since 5.0 * @see NonNullApi * @see NonNullFields * @see NonNull */
@Target({ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.PARAMETER, ElementType.FIELD}) @Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME) @Documented @Nonnull(when = When.MAYBE) @TypeQualifierNickname public @interface Nullable { }