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javaclassmethodsreflectionannotation-processing

run time annotation scanning when Dynamic class loading


import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;

// declare a new annotation
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@interface Demo {
   String str();
   int val();
}

public class PackageDemo {

   // set values for the annotation
   @Demo(str = "Demo Annotation", val = 100)
   // a method to call in the main
   public static void example() {
      PackageDemo ob = new PackageDemo();

      try {
         Class c = ob.getClass();

         // get the method example
         Method m = c.getMethod("example");

         // get the annotation for class Demo
         Demo annotation = m.getAnnotation(Demo.class);

         // print the annotation
         System.out.println(annotation.str() + " " + annotation.val());
      } catch (NoSuchMethodException exc) {
         exc.printStackTrace();
      }
   }
   public static void main(String args[]) {
      example();
   }
}

My objective is to check the annotation on few methods and if it exists on the annotation , I need to get the annotation.

Demo annotation = m.getAnnotation(Demo.class);

In the above example , the annotation is declared in the same file. If annotation is in a different package I can do something like

import com.this.class.DemoClass
try {
         Class c = ob.getClass();

         // get the method example
         Method m = c.getMethod("example");

         // get the annotation for class Demo
         Demo annotation = m.getAnnotation(Demo.class);

But if I want to load the DemoClass/AnnotationClass dynamically like

Class<?> Demo = Class.forName("com.this.class.DemoClass")

How do I get the annotation on the methods. I think the below line doesn't works in this case

Demo annotation = m.getAnnotation(Demo.class);

Solution

  • This approach worked for me. hope this helps someone.

     DemoClass= (Class<Annotation>) Class.forName("com.this.class.DemoClass");
        if (method.isAnnotationPresent(DemoClass)) {
           for (Annotation annotation : method.getAnnotations()) {
           Class<? extends Annotation> annotationType = annotation.annotationType();      
           if (annotationType.getName() == "com.this.class.DemoClass") {
              for (Method annotationMethod : annotationType.getDeclaredMethods()) {
              value= annotationMethod.invoke(annotation, (Object[]) null);
              }
           }
         }