RetentionPolicy (Java Platform SE 7 )

java.lang.Object
- java.lang.Enum<RetentionPolicy>
- - java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy

All Implemented Interfaces:

Serializable, Comparable<RetentionPolicy>
```
public enum RetentionPolicy extends Enum<RetentionPolicy>
```
Annotation retention policy. The constants of this enumerated type describe the various policies for retaining annotations. They are used in conjunction with the Retention meta-annotation type to specify how long annotations are to be retained.

Since:

1.5

Enum Constant Summary

Enum Constants
Enum Constant and Description
`CLASS` Annotations are to be recorded in the class file by the compiler but need not be retained by the VM at run time.
`RUNTIME` Annotations are to be recorded in the class file by the compiler and retained by the VM at run time, so they may be read reflectively.
`SOURCE` Annotations are to be discarded by the compiler.

Method Summary

Methods
Modifier and Type	Method and Description
`static RetentionPolicy`	`valueOf(String name)` Returns the enum constant of this type with the specified name.
`static RetentionPolicy[]`	`values()` Returns an array containing the constants of this enum type, in the order they are declared.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Enum
clone, compareTo, equals, finalize, getDeclaringClass, hashCode, name, ordinal, toString, valueOf

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait

- Enum Constant Detail
  - SOURCE
```
public static final RetentionPolicy SOURCE
```
    Annotations are to be discarded by the compiler.
  - CLASS
```
public static final RetentionPolicy CLASS
```
    Annotations are to be recorded in the class file by the compiler but need not be retained by the VM at run time. This is the default behavior.
  - RUNTIME
```
public static final RetentionPolicy RUNTIME
```
    Annotations are to be recorded in the class file by the compiler and retained by the VM at run time, so they may be read reflectively.
    
    See Also:
    AnnotatedElement
- Method Detail
  - values
```
public static RetentionPolicy[] values()
```
    Returns an array containing the constants of this enum type, in the order they are declared. This method may be used to iterate over the constants as follows:
```
 for (RetentionPolicy c : RetentionPolicy.values())   System.out.println(c); 
```
    Returns:
    an array containing the constants of this enum type, in the order they are declared
  - valueOf
```
public static RetentionPolicy valueOf(String name)
```
    Returns the enum constant of this type with the specified name. The string must match exactly an identifier used to declare an enum constant in this type. (Extraneous whitespace characters are not permitted.)
    
    Parameters:
    name - the name of the enum constant to be returned.
    
    Returns:
    the enum constant with the specified name
    
    Throws:
    
    IllegalArgumentException - if this enum type has no constant with the specified name
    
    NullPointerException - if the argument is null

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Enum RetentionPolicy

Enum Constant Summary

Method Summary

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Enum

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

Enum Constant Detail

SOURCE

CLASS

RUNTIME

Method Detail

values

valueOf