What are Java annotations and how do I use them?

What are Java annotations and how do I use them?

Java annotations are metadata that provide data about a program but are not part of the program itself. They can be used for various purposes, such as providing information for the compiler, runtime processing, or code analysis.

Can you give me an example of a common annotation?

Sure! A common annotation is @Override, which indicates that a method is intended to override a method in a superclass.

How do I create a custom annotation?

To create a custom annotation, you define it using the @interface keyword. For example: public @interface MyAnnotation {}.

What are some use cases for annotations?

Annotations can be used for configuration, documentation, and even for frameworks like Spring and Hibernate to manage dependencies and ORM.