This set of 3 annotations generate a constructor that will accept 1 parameter for certain fields, and simply assigns this parameter to the field.

@NoArgsConstructor will generate a constructor with no parameters. If this is not possible (because of final fields), a compiler error will result instead. For fields with constraints, such as @NonNull fields, no check or assignment is generated, so be aware that these constraints may then not be fulfilled until those fields are properly initialized later. Certain java constructs, such as hibernate and the Service Provider Interface require a no-args constructor. This annotation is useful primarily in combination with either @Data or one of the other constructor generating annotations.

@RequiredArgsConstructor generates a constructor with 1 parameter for each field that requires special handling. All non-initialized final fields get a parameter, as well as any fields that are marked as @NonNull that aren't initialized where they are declared. For those fields marked with @NonNull, an explicit null check is also generated. The constructor will throw a NullPointerException if any of the parameters intended for the fields marked with @NonNull contain null. The order of the parameters match the order in which the fields appear in your class.

@AllArgsConstructor generates a constructor with 1 parameter for each field in your class. Fields marked with @NonNull result in null checks on those parameters.

Each of these annotations allows an alternate form, where the generated constructor is always private, and an additional static factory method that wraps around the private constructor is generated. This mode is enabled by supplying the staticName value for the annotation, like so: @RequiredArgsConstructor(staticName="of"). Such a static factory method will infer generics, unlike a normal constructor. This means your API users get write MapEntry.of("foo", 5) instead of the much longer new MapEntry<String, Integer>("foo", 5).

To put annotations on the generated constructor, you can use onConstructor=@__({@AnnotationsHere}), but be careful; this is an experimental feature. For more details see the documentation on the onX feature.

Static fields are skipped by these annotations. Also, a @java.beans.ConstructorProperties annotation is added for all constructors with at least 1 argument, which allows bean editor tools to call the generated constructors. @ConstructorProperties is now in Java 1.6, which means that if your code is intended for compilation on Java 1.5, a compiler error will occur. Running on a JVM 1.5 should be no problem (the annotation will be ignored). To suppress the generation of the @ConstructorProperties annotation, add a parameter to your annotation: @AllArgsConstructor(suppressConstructorProperties=true). However, as java 1.5, which has already been end-of-lifed, fades into obscurity, this parameter will eventually be removed. It has also been marked deprecated for this reason.

Unlike most other lombok annotations, the existence of an explicit constructor does not stop these annotations from generating their own constructor. This means you can write your own specialized constructor, and let lombok generate the boilerplate ones as well. If a conflict arises (one of your constructors ends up with the same signature as one that lombok generates), a compiler error will occur.

Even if a field is explicitly initialized with null, lombok will consider the requirement to avoid null as fulfilled, and will NOT consider the field as a 'required' argument. The assumption is that if you explicitly assign null to a field that you've also marked as @NonNull signals you must know what you're doing.

The @java.beans.ConstructorProperties annotation is never generated for a constructor with no arguments. This also explains why @NoArgsConstructor lacks the suppressConstructorProperties annotation method. The @ConstructorProperties annotation is also omitted for private constructors. The generated static factory methods also do not get @ConstructorProperties, as this annotation can only be added to real constructors.

@XArgsConstructor can also be used on an enum definition. The generated constructor will always be private, because non-private constructors aren't legal in enums. You don't have to specify AccessLevel.PRIVATE.

While suppressConstructorProperties has been marked deprecated in anticipation of a world where all java environments have the @ConstructorProperties annotation available, first GWT 2.2 and Android 2.3.3, which do not (yet) have this annotation, will have to be ancient history before this annotation parameter will be removed.

The flagUsage configuration keys do not trigger when a constructor is generated by @Data, @Value or any other lombok annotation.