C# FAQ: What is the difference between metadata annotations in CSharp and Java

Microsoft .NET Framework, ASP.NET, Visual C# (CSharp, C Sharp, C-Sharp) Developer Training, Visual Studio


Jump to: navigation, search
CSharp-Online.NET:FAQs
edit

Contents

[edit]

What is the difference between metadata annotations in C# and Java?

Metadata annotations are a method of extending programming language capabilities. Annotations can take the form of directives requesting that the runtime

  • extend type cabilities;
  • perform specific tasks;
  • provide information about an item.
[edit]

C# attributes

C# attributes allow a developer to add annotations—that is, metadata—to a member variable, method, module, parameter, or type. The following are brief descriptions of a few intrinsic .NET attributes which can be employed to extend C# capabilities:

  • [FlagsAttribute] specifies that an enum supports bitwise operations. This is useful for enumerations with multiple value targets.
  • [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)] specifes that multiple thread access to a method is controlled by a lock designed to prevent concurrent access problems. This is analogous to the synchronized Java keyword.
  • [Serializable] marks a class as serializable. It is the C# analogue of a Java class which implements the Serializable interface.
  • [WebMethod] specifies—along with ASP.NET—that a method will be—automatically—made available as a Web service. The Java equivalent involves a complex configuration of Java Enterprise Edition, JAXP, and UDDI plus creating an Enterprise JavaBean—a bean class implementing two interfaces and a deployment descriptor.
[edit]

Java annotations

Java annotations provide a way to add annotations—that is, metadata—to a local variable, member, method, package, parameter, or type. The Java system supports three built-in annotations as follows:

  • @Deprecated flags a method as deprecated—obsolescent—and causes a compiler warning to be generated.
  • @Override specifies that a method will override a base class method. If the annotated method does not do so, then a compiler error will result.
  • @SuppressWarnings is used to suppress specific compiler warnings. This annotation can accept the name of the specific warning message to be suppressed.
[edit]

Custom annotations and attributes

In C#, custom attributes can be created by developers by subclassing the System.Attribute.

In the Java system, custom annotations can be created by developers using the @interface annotation.

[edit]

Reflection

In C#, the attributes of a class, field, method, or module can be accessed using reflection. Use this feature to obtain class metadata or to determine at runtime whether a class supports certain behaviors.

In the Java system, class, field, method, or module annotations can be accessed via reflection. But, C# attributes and Java annotations differ in that only in the Java system can annotations be put on annotations.

[edit]

See also

Retrieved from "http://en.csharp-online.net/CSharp_FAQ:_What_is_the_difference_between_metadata_annotations_in_CSharp_and_Java"




Personal tools