Java Docs

Java Documentation (Javadoc) Best Practices

• Public and protected members should be documented with Javadoc comments.
• It is encouraged to document package-private and private members as well, especially if they are complex or not self-explanatory.
• The first sentence of the Javadoc comment is the summary description. It should be a concise overview of what the method does and end with a period.
• Use @param for method parameters. The description starts with a lowercase letter and does not end with a period.
• Use @return for method return values.
• Use @throws or @exception to document exceptions thrown by methods.
• Use @see for references to other types or members.
• Use {@inheritDoc} to inherit documentation from base classes or interfaces.
  • Unless there is major behavior change, in which case you should document the differences.
• Use @param <T> for type parameters in generic types or methods.
• Use {@code} for inline code snippets.