java - Can you return Annotations as objects? -

say wanted return version without having create variable, or perhaps serial or reference (@see), similar to:

public @version getversion() {     return /*the @version tag on class*/; } 

where @version runtime-visible annotation declared on class or method (and java 8, type annotations)?

i'm not quite sure, perhaps you're looking this:

@version(4) public class thisclass {     public static version getversion () {         return thisclass.class.getannotation(version.class);     } } 

i'm not sure precise "version" annotation you're using, or if you're trying do, seems possible answer kind of problem you're trying solve.