org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual

Annotation Type MonotonicNonNull

@Documented
 @Retention(value=RUNTIME)
 @Target(value=TYPE_USE)
 @SubtypeOf(value=Nullable.class)
 @MonotonicQualifier(value=NonNull.class)
public @interface MonotonicNonNull

Indicates that once the field (or variable) becomes non-null, it never becomes null again. There is no guarantee that the field ever becomes non-null, but if it does, it will stay non-null.

Example use cases include lazy initialization and framework-based initialization in a lifecycle method other than the constructor.

A monotonically non-null field has these two properties:

1. The field may be assigned only non-null values.
2. The field may be re-assigned as often as desired.

When the field is first read within a method, the field cannot be assumed to be non-null. After a check that a @MonotonicNonNull field holds a non-null value, all subsequent accesses within that method can be assumed to be non-null, even after arbitrary external method calls that might access the field.

@MonotonicNonNull gives stronger guarantees than Nullable. After a check that a Nullable field holds a non-null value, only accesses until the next non-SideEffectFree method is called can be assumed to be non-null.

To indicate that a @MonotonicNonNull or @Nullable field is non-null whenever a particular method is called, use @RequiresNonNull.

Final fields are treated as MonotonicNonNull by default.

See Also:

EnsuresNonNull, RequiresNonNull, MonotonicQualifier, NullnessChecker

See the Checker Framework Manual:

Nullness Checker