Format (org.apache.directory.api_api-all_sources-and-javadoc 2.1.1 API)

```
@Documented
@Retention(RUNTIME)
@Target({TYPE_USE,TYPE_PARAMETER})
@SubtypeOf(UnknownFormat.class)
public @interface Format
```
This annotation, attached to a String type, indicates that the String may be passed to Formatter.format and similar methods.
The annotation's value represents the valid arguments that may be passed to the format method. For example:
```
 @Format({GENERAL, INT}) String f = "String '%s' has length %d";

  String.format(f, "Example", 7);
 
```
The annotation indicates that the format string requires any Object as the first parameter (ConversionCategory.GENERAL) and an integer as the second parameter (ConversionCategory.INT). The format string accepts any values as additional parameters (because it ignores them).
See Also:

ConversionCategory

Required Element Summary

Required Elements
Modifier and Type	Required Element	Description
`ConversionCategory[]`	`value`	An array of `ConversionCategory`, indicating the types of legal remaining arguments when a value of the annotated type is used as the first argument to `Formatter.format` and similar methods.

- Element Detail
  - value
```
ConversionCategory[] value
```
    An array of ConversionCategory, indicating the types of legal remaining arguments when a value of the annotated type is used as the first argument to Formatter.format and similar methods.
    
    Returns:
    
    types that can be used as values when a value of this type is the format string