com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.annotation

Annotation Type JsonSerialize

@Target(value={ANNOTATION_TYPE,METHOD,FIELD,TYPE,PARAMETER})
@Retention(value=RUNTIME)
public @interface JsonSerialize

Annotation used for configuring serialization aspects, by attaching to "getter" methods or fields, or to value classes. When annotating value classes, configuration is used for instances of the value class but can be overridden by more specific annotations (ones that attach to methods or fields).

An example annotation would be:

  @JsonSerialize(using=MySerializer.class,
    as=MySubClass.class,
    typing=JsonSerialize.Typing.STATIC
  )

(which would be redundant, since some properties block others: specifically, 'using' has precedence over 'as', which has precedence over 'typing' setting)

Optional Element Summary

Optional Elements

Modifier and Type	Optional Element and Description
Class<?>	as Supertype (of declared type, which itself is supertype of runtime type) to use as type when locating serializer to use.
Class<?>	contentAs Concrete type to serialize content value (elements of a Collection/array, values of Maps) as, instead of type otherwise declared.
Class<? extends Converter>	contentConverter Similar to converter(), but used for values of structures types (List, arrays, Maps).
Class<? extends JsonSerializer>	contentUsing Serializer class to use for serializing contents (elements of a Collection/array, values of Maps) of annotated property.
Class<? extends Converter>	converter Which helper object is to be used to convert type into something that Jackson knows how to serialize; either because base type can not be serialized easily, or just to alter serialization.
JsonSerialize.Inclusion	include Deprecated. As of Jackson 2.0, this annotation has been replaced by JsonInclude
Class<?>	keyAs Concrete type to serialize keys of Map as, instead of type otherwise declared.
Class<? extends JsonSerializer>	keyUsing Serializer class to use for serializing Map keys of annotated property.
Class<? extends JsonSerializer>	nullsUsing Serializer class to use for serializing nulls for properties that are annotated, instead of the default null serializer.
JsonSerialize.Typing	typing Whether type detection used is dynamic or static: that is, whether actual runtime type is used (dynamic), or just the declared type (static).
Class<? extends JsonSerializer>	using Serializer class to use for serializing associated value.

Element Detail

using

public abstract Class<? extends JsonSerializer> using

Serializer class to use for serializing associated value. Depending on what is annotated, value is either an instance of annotated class (used globablly anywhere where class serializer is needed); or only used for serializing property access via a getter method.

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonSerializer.None.class

contentUsing

public abstract Class<? extends JsonSerializer> contentUsing

Serializer class to use for serializing contents (elements of a Collection/array, values of Maps) of annotated property. Can only be used on properties (methods, fields, constructors), and not value classes themselves (as they are typically generic)

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonSerializer.None.class

keyUsing

public abstract Class<? extends JsonSerializer> keyUsing

Serializer class to use for serializing Map keys of annotated property. Can only be used on properties (methods, fields, constructors), and not value classes themselves.

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonSerializer.None.class

nullsUsing

public abstract Class<? extends JsonSerializer> nullsUsing

Serializer class to use for serializing nulls for properties that are annotated, instead of the default null serializer. Note that using this property when annotation types (classes) has no effect currently (it is possible this could be improved in future).

Since:

2.3

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonSerializer.None.class

as

public abstract Class<?> as

Supertype (of declared type, which itself is supertype of runtime type) to use as type when locating serializer to use.

Bogus type Void can be used to indicate that declared type is used as is (i.e. this annotation property has no setting); this since annotation properties are not allowed to have null value.

Note: if using() is also used it has precedence (since it directly specifies serializer, whereas this would only be used to locate the serializer) and value of this annotation property is ignored.

Default:

java.lang.Void.class

keyAs

public abstract Class<?> keyAs

Concrete type to serialize keys of Map as, instead of type otherwise declared. Must be a supertype of declared type; otherwise an exception may be thrown by serializer.

Default:

java.lang.Void.class

contentAs

public abstract Class<?> contentAs

Concrete type to serialize content value (elements of a Collection/array, values of Maps) as, instead of type otherwise declared. Must be a supertype of declared type; otherwise an exception may be thrown by serializer.

Default:

java.lang.Void.class

typing

public abstract JsonSerialize.Typing typing

Whether type detection used is dynamic or static: that is, whether actual runtime type is used (dynamic), or just the declared type (static).

Note that Jackson 2.3 changed default to DEFAULT_TYPING, which is roughly same as saying "whatever". This is important as it allows avoiding accidental overrides at property level.

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.annotation.JsonSerialize.Typing.DEFAULT_TYPING

converter

public abstract Class<? extends Converter> converter

Which helper object is to be used to convert type into something that Jackson knows how to serialize; either because base type can not be serialized easily, or just to alter serialization.

Since:

2.2

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.Converter.None.class

contentConverter

public abstract Class<? extends Converter> contentConverter

Similar to converter(), but used for values of structures types (List, arrays, Maps). Note that this property does NOT have effect when used as Class annotation; it can only be used as property annotation: this because association between container and value types is loose and as such converters seldom make sense for such usage.

Since:

2.2

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.util.Converter.None.class

include

@Deprecated
public abstract JsonSerialize.Inclusion include

Deprecated. As of Jackson 2.0, this annotation has been replaced by JsonInclude

Which properties of annotated Bean are to be included in serialization (has no effect on other types like enums, primitives or collections). Choices are "all", "properties that have value other than null" and "properties that have non-default value" (i.e. default value being property setting for a Bean constructed with default no-arg constructor, often null).

This property has been replaced by special-purpose JsonInclude annotation, introduced in Jackson 2.0.

Note that Jackson 2.3 changed default to DEFAULT_INCLUSION, which is roughly same as saying "whatever". This is important because it allows hierarchic default values to be used.

Default:

com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.annotation.JsonSerialize.Inclusion.DEFAULT_INCLUSION