What is the difference between @Deprecated vs @Deprecated()?

Question

Came across this @Deprecated() today. Curious to know @Deprecated vs @Deprecated() but both are resolving to the same interface Deprecated by the compiler.

Are they both different or are they same? Is there some practice to use one over another?

Answer 1

They both mean the same thing. @Deprecated is simply shorthand for @Deprecated() . See §9.7.2. Marker Annotations of the Java Language Specification :

A marker annotation is a shorthand designed for use with marker annotation types (§9.6.1).

 MarkerAnnotation: @ TypeName

It is shorthand for the normal annotation:

 @TypeName()

It is legal to use marker annotations for annotation types with elements, so long as all the elements have default values (§9.6.2).

Example 9.7.2-1. Marker Annotations

^{Here is an example using the Preliminary marker annotation type from §9.6.1:}

 @Preliminary public class TimeTravel { ... }

As of Java 8 the @Deprecated annotation had no elements, so it could only ever be a marker annotation. Since Java 9, however, it now has two elements: since and forRemoval . But since those elements have default values the annotation can still be used as a marker annotation.

Answer 2

It's not an interface, it is an annotation . @Deprecated and @Deprecated() are the same