package java.lang.annotation;

/**
 * Indicates that an annotation type is automatically inherited. If an Inherited meta-annotation is
 * present on an annotation type declaration, and the user queries the annotation type on a class
 * declaration, and the class declaration has no annotation for this type, then the class's
 * superclass will automatically be queried for the annotation type. This process will be repeated
 * until an annotation for this type is found, or the top of the class hierarchy (Object) is
 * reached. If no superclass has an annotation for this type, then the query will indicate that the
 * class in question has no such annotation.
 *
 * <p>
 * Note that this meta-annotation type has no effect if the annotated type is used to annotate
 * anything other than a class. Note also that this meta-annotation only causes annotations to be
 * inherited from superclasses; annotations on implemented interfaces have no effect.
 */
@Documented
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@Target(ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE)
public @interface Inherited {
}