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How to mark a method as obsolete or deprecated?

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How do you mark a method as deprecated?

To mark a method as deprecated we can use the JavaDoc @deprecated tag. This is what we did since the beginning of Java. But when a new metadata support introduced to the Java language we can also use annotation. The annotation for marking method as deprecated is @Depreated .

How do you mark a class deprecated?

You need to use the [Obsolete] attribute. Example: [Obsolete("Not used any more", true)] public class MyDeprecatedClass { //... }

How do you mark a class as deprecated in C#?

How can a class marked as Deprecated/Obsolete in c# or vb.NET? You can mark a class, method or property by adding the Obsolete Attribute above the declaration. The second parameter of the attribute indicates whether the obsolete Class/Method/Property element usage is considered as error or not.


The shortest way is by adding the ObsoleteAttribute as an attribute to the method. Make sure to include an appropriate explanation:

[Obsolete("Method1 is deprecated, please use Method2 instead.")]
public void Method1()
{ … }

You can also cause the compilation to fail, treating the usage of the method as an error instead of warning, if the method is called from somewhere in code like this:

[Obsolete("Method1 is deprecated, please use Method2 instead.", true)]

To mark as obsolete with a warning:

[Obsolete]
private static void SomeMethod()

You get a warning when you use it:

Obsolete warning is shown

And with IntelliSense:

Obsolete warning with IntelliSense

If you want a message:

[Obsolete("My message")]
private static void SomeMethod()

Here's the IntelliSense tool tip:

IntelliSense shows the obsolete message

Finally if you want the usage to be flagged as an error:

[Obsolete("My message", true)]
private static void SomeMethod()

When used this is what you get:

Method usage is displayed as an error

Note: Use the message to tell people what they should use instead, not why it is obsolete.


Add an annotation to the method using the keyword Obsolete. Message argument is optional but a good idea to communicate why the item is now obsolete and/or what to use instead.
Example:

[System.Obsolete("use myMethodB instead")]
void myMethodA()

With ObsoleteAttribute you can mark a method as deprecated. It has three constructors:

  1. [Obsolete]: is a no parameter constructor and is a default using this attribute.
  2. [Obsolete(string message)]: in this format you can get message of why this method is deprecated.
  3. [Obsolete(string message, bool error)]: in this format message is very explicit but error means, in compilation time, compiler must be showing error and cause to fail compiling or not.

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