The intention of Java(TM) Common Annotations is to develop annotations for common semantic concepts in the Java SE and Java EE platforms that apply across a variety of individual technologies. It was envisioned that various JSRs would use annotations to enable a declarative style of programming. It would be especially valuable to have consistency within the Java EE component JSRs, but it is also valuable to allow consistency between Java EE and Java SE.

This standalone release of Java(TM) Common Annotations uses a Java Platform Module System "automatic" module name of java.annotation, to match the module name used in JDK 9. A future version will include full module metadata.