@NonNull was introduced in lombok v0.11.10.
<@f.overview>
You can use @NonNull on the parameter of a method or constructor to have lombok generate a null-check statement for you.
Lombok has always treated various annotations generally named @NonNull on a field as a signal to generate a null-check if lombok generates an entire method or constructor for you, via for example @Data. Now, however, using lombok's own @lombok.NonNull on a parameter results in the insertion of just the null-check statement inside your own method or constructor.
The null-check looks like if (param == null) throw new NullPointerException("param is marked @NonNull but is null"); and will be inserted at the very top of your method. For constructors, the null-check will be inserted immediately following any explicit this() or super() calls.
If a null-check is already present at the top, no additional null-check will be generated.
<@f.snippets name="NonNull" /> <@f.confKeys>lombok.nonNull.exceptionType = [NullPointerException | IllegalArgumentException | Assertion] (default: NullPointerException).
if statement, by default, a java.lang.NullPointerException will be thrown with 'field name is marked non-null but is null' as the exception message. However, you can use IllegalArgumentException in this configuration key to have lombok throw that exception with this message instead. By using Assertion, an assert statement with the same message will be generated.
lombok.nonNull.flagUsage = [warning | error] (default: not set)
@NonNull as a warning or error if configured.
Lombok's detection scheme for already existing null-checks consists of scanning for if statements or assert statements that look just like lombok's own. Any 'throws' statement as the 'then' part of the if statement, whether in braces or not, counts. The conditional of the if statement must look exactly like PARAMNAME == null; the assert statement must look exactly like PARAMNAME != null. The first statement in your method that is not such a null-check stops the process of inspecting for null-checks.
While @Data and other method-generating lombok annotations will trigger on various well-known annotations that signify the field must never be @NonNull, this feature only triggers on lombok's own @NonNull annotation from the lombok package.
A @NonNull on a primitive parameter results in a warning. No null-check will be generated.
A @NonNull on a parameter of an abstract method used to generate a warning; starting with version 1.16.8, this is no longer the case, to acknowledge the notion that @NonNull also has a documentary role. For the same reason, you can annotate a method as @NonNull; this is allowed, generates no warning, and does not generate any code.