Class getAnnotations() method in Java with Examples

Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2025
The getAnnotations() method of java.lang.Class class is used to get the annotations present in this class. The method returns an array of annotations present. Syntax: 
public Annotation[] getAnnotations()
Parameter: This method does not accepts any parameter. Return Value: This method returns an array of annotations present. Below programs demonstrate the getAnnotations() method. Example 1: Java 
// Java program to demonstrate
// getAnnotations() method

import java.util.*;
import java.lang.annotation.*;

@Deprecated
public class Test {

    public Object obj;

    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws ClassNotFoundException
    {
        try {
            // returns the Class object for this class
            Class myClass = Test.class;

            System.out.println(
                "Class represented by myClass: "
                + myClass.toString());

            // Get the annotation
            // using getAnnotations() method
            System.out.println(
                "Annotation of myClass: "
                + Arrays.toString(
                      myClass.getAnnotations()));
        }
        catch (Exception e) {
            System.out.println(e);
        }
    }
}
Output: 
Class represented by myClass: class Test
Annotation of myClass: [@java.lang.Deprecated()]
Example 2: Java 
// Java program to demonstrate
// getAnnotations() method

import java.util.*;
import java.lang.annotation.*;

// create a custom Annotation
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@interface Annotation {

    // This annotation has two attributes.
    public String key();

    public String value();
}

// call Annotation for method
// and pass values for annotation
@Annotation(key = "GFG", value = "GeeksForGeeks")
public class Test {

    public Object obj;

    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws ClassNotFoundException
    {

        // returns the Class object for this class
        Class myClass = Test.class;

        System.out.println(
            "Class represented by myClass: "
            + myClass.toString());

        // Get the annotation
        // using getAnnotations() method
        System.out.println(
            "Annotation of myClass: "
            + Arrays.toString(
                  myClass.getAnnotations()));
    }
}
Output: 
Class represented by myClass: class Test
Annotation of myClass: [@Annotation(key=GFG, value=GeeksForGeeks)]
Reference: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/docs/api/java/lang/Class.html#getAnnotations--
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