Annotations Specification in Java Class File format?

Question

I am reading Java Virtual Machine Specification second edition for Java 6. But I found it no annotation detail for Java Class File Format. Although the jvm 6 can recognise the annotation. another question is there also like other feathers like ACC_BRIDGE flag not mention in Virtual machine Specification second edtion but appeared in Java 7 Virtual machine Specification. Tell me why? those features seems like accept by JVM 6 But why didn't metion it in java 6 specification. What I missed?

Answer 1

All JVM internals are documented in JVM specification and corresponding updates:

• JVM spec for Java before version 5
• Spec updates for Java 5 VM
• Spec updates for Java 6 VM

More specifically, the ACC_BRIDGE flag been introduced in Java 5. See Section 4.7 of the updated Class File Format.