Annotation Type ExtensionMethod

@Target(TYPE) @Retention(SOURCE) public @interface ExtensionMethod
Extension methods enable you to "add" methods to existing types without creating a new derived type, recompiling, or otherwise modifying the original type. Extension methods are a special kind of static method, but they are called as if they were instance methods on the extended type.

Complete documentation is found at the project lombok features page for @ExtensionMethod.

Before: 

 @ExtensionMethod(java.util.Arrays.class)
 class Example {
        private void example() {
                long[] values = new long[] { 2, 5, 7, 9 };
                values.copyOf(3).sort();
        }
 }
After: 
 class Example {
        private void example() {
                long[] values = new long[] { 2, 5, 7, 9 };
                java.util.Arrays.sort(java.util.Arrays.copyOf(values, 3));
        }
 }

  • Required Element Summary

    Required Elements
    Modifier and Type
    Required Element
    Description
    Class<?>[]
    value
     

  • Optional Element Summary

    Optional Elements
    Modifier and Type
    Optional Element
    Description
    boolean
    suppressBaseMethods
    If true, an applicable extension method is used (if found) even if the method call already was compilable (this is the default).

  • Element Details

    • value

      Class<?>[] value
      Returns:
      All types whose static methods will be exposed as extension methods.

    • suppressBaseMethods

      boolean suppressBaseMethods
      If true, an applicable extension method is used (if found) even if the method call already was compilable (this is the default). If false, an extension method is only used if the method call is not also defined by the type itself.
      Returns:
      Whether or not to override already existing methods with the extension.
      Default:
      true