blob: d3e79cb96495e1bae0542021cf39866b97a81195 [file] [log] [blame]
package org.codehaus.jackson.annotate;
import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
import java.lang.annotation.Target;
/**
* Annotation used to indicate that associated property is part of
* two-way linkage between fields; and that its role is "child" (or "back") link.
* Value type of the property must be a bean: it can not be a Collection, Map,
* Array or enumeration.
* Linkage is handled such that the property
* annotated with this annotation is not serialized; and during deserialization,
* its value is set to instance that has the "managed" (forward) link.
*<p>
* All references have logical name to allow handling multiple linkages; typical case
* would be that where nodes have both parent/child and sibling linkages. If so,
* pairs of references should be named differently.
* It is an error for a class to have multiple back references with same name,
* even if types pointed are different.
*<p>
* Note: only methods and fields can be annotated with this annotation: constructor
* arguments should NOT be annotated, as they can not be either managed or back
* references.
*
* @author tatu
*/
@Target({ElementType.FIELD, ElementType.METHOD})
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@JacksonAnnotation
public @interface JsonBackReference
{
/**
* Logical have for the reference property pair; used to link managed and
* back references. Default name can be used if there is just single
* reference pair (for example, node class that just has parent/child linkage,
* consisting of one managed reference and matching back reference)
*/
public String value() default "defaultReference";
}