//$Id: $
package org.hibernate.annotations;

import java.lang.annotation.Target;
import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
import static java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME;
import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.METHOD;
import static java.lang.annotation.ElementType.FIELD;
import javax.persistence.Column;

/**
 * Define the map key columns as an explicit column holding the map key
 * This is completly different from {@link javax.persistence.MapKey} which use an existing column
 * This annotation and {@link javax.persistence.MapKey} are mutually exclusive
 *
 * @author Emmanuel Bernard
 */
@Target({METHOD, FIELD})
@Retention(RUNTIME)
public @interface MapKey {
	Column[] columns() default {};
	/**
	 * Represent the key class in a Map
	 * Only useful if the collection does not use generics
	 */
	Class targetElement() default void.class;

	/**
	 * The optional map key type. Guessed if default
	 */
	Type type() default @Type(type = ""); 
}