How to set Integer Array in Java Annotation

Question

I want to have an Integer Array as input in annotation interface, something like this.

@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.METHOD })
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@Inherited
@Documented
public @interface CheckAccess {

    AccessType accessType() default AccessType.ALL;
    Integer[] permissions();

}

so that while providing the input, I can use some constant having integer values. Like this:-

@CheckAccess(permissions={CAN_READ, CAN_WRITE})

CAN_READ = 1;
CAN_WRITE=2;

How can I achieve this? Because when I set Integer[] it throws compilation error but works fine for String[].

Error:(15, 12) java: invalid type for element {0} of annotation type — Dave Ranjan
– Dave Ranjan, Commented Apr 2, 2018 at 10:23
Is there no way it could accept Integer[]? I mean it is a proper class not a primitive. — Dave Ranjan
– Dave Ranjan, Commented Apr 2, 2018 at 10:25
@DaveRanjan I think switching to int[] is the simplest solution. — lexicore
– lexicore, Commented Apr 2, 2018 at 10:31

Thomas Fritsch · Accepted Answer · 2018-04-02 10:39:39Z

3

The Java compiler (at least the one in my Eclipse) gives the following error message:

Invalid type Integer[] for the annotation attribute permissions;
only primitive type, String, Class, annotation, enumeration are permitted or one-dimensional arrays thereof

Therefore you need to replace Integer[] by int[], like this:

int[] permissions() default 0;

answered Apr 2, 2018 at 10:39

Thomas Fritsch

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2 Comments

Dave Ranjan Over a year ago

Thanks it solved my problem, but question is Integer is also a Class so it should be allowed right? I mean if String[] is what makes Integer[] so different?

Thomas Fritsch Over a year ago

You misunderstood what is meant by Class here. It is an annotation attribute of type Class, lwith value like for example String.class or Object.class.

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