codeql/java/ql/lib/change-notes/2022-04-01-annotation-features.md

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feature

• The predicates of the CodeQL class Annotation have been improved:
  • Convenience value type specific predicates have been added, such as getEnumConstantValue(string) or getStringValue(string).
  • Convenience predicates for elements with array values have been added, such as getAnEnumConstantArrayValue(string). While the behavior of the existing predicates has not changed, usage of them should be reviewed (or replaced with the newly added predicate) to make sure they work correctly for elements with array values.
  • Some internal CodeQL usage of the Annotation predicates has been adjusted and corrected; this might affect the results of some queries.
• New predicates have been added to the CodeQL class Annotatable to support getting declared and associated annotations. As part of that, hasAnnotation() has been changed to also consider inherited annotations, to be consistent with hasAnnotation(string, string) and getAnAnnotation(). The newly added predicate hasDeclaredAnnotation() can be used as replacement for the old functionality.
• New predicates have been added to the CodeQL class AnnotationType to simplify getting information about usage of JDK meta-annotations, such as @Retention.