In Java, a docstring (also called a Javadoc comment) is a special type of comment that begins with /** and ends with */. Docstrings are used to generate documentation for Java classes, interfaces, methods, and fields, and are typically placed immediately before the declaration of the element they are documenting.
Here's an example of a docstring for a Java class:
/**
* This is a sample class with a docstring.
*
* @author John Smith
* @since 1.0
*/
public class SampleClass {
// Class definition goes here
}
Docstrings can contain a variety of information, including a description of the element, the author of the element, the version of the element, and any relevant notes or warnings.
To generate documentation from docstrings, you can use the javadoc tool provided with the Java Development Kit (JDK). The javadoc tool reads the source code of your Java program and extracts the docstrings to create HTML documentation for your code.
Using docstrings and the javadoc tool is a good way to document your code and make it easier for others to understand and use. It's also a good practice to include docstrings for all of your public classes, interfaces, methods, and fields to provide clear and concise documentation for your code.