= Optionality _(enum)_
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Whether the property or parameter is optional or is required (aka mandatory).

== API

[source,java]
.Optionality.java
----
enum Optionality {
  DEFAULT     // <.>
  OPTIONAL     // <.>
  MANDATORY     // <.>
  NOT_SPECIFIED     // <.>
  boolean isOptional()
}
----

<.> xref:#DEFAULT[DEFAULT]
+
--
Default, usually meaning mandatory for properties and always meaning mandatory for parameters.
--
<.> xref:#OPTIONAL[OPTIONAL]
+
--
Indicates that the property or parameter is not required.
--
<.> xref:#MANDATORY[MANDATORY]
+
--
Indicates that the property is required (even if the JDO `javax.jdo.annotations.Column` annotation says otherwise).
--
<.> xref:#NOT_SPECIFIED[NOT_SPECIFIED]
+
--
Ignore the value provided by this annotation (meaning that the framework will keep searching, in meta annotations or superclasses/interfaces).
--

== Members

[#DEFAULT]
=== DEFAULT

Default, usually meaning mandatory for properties and always meaning mandatory for parameters.

For properties, will be false unless JDO `javax.jdo.annotations.Column` has also specified with `javax.jdo.annotations.Column#allowsNull()` set to `true` .

[#OPTIONAL]
=== OPTIONAL

Indicates that the property or parameter is not required.

[#MANDATORY]
=== MANDATORY

Indicates that the property is required (even if the JDO `javax.jdo.annotations.Column` annotation says otherwise).

When using the JDO/DataNucleus objectstore, it is sometimes necessary to annotate a property as optional (using `javax.jdo.annotations.Column#allowsNull()` set to `true` ), even if the property is logically mandatory. For example, this can occur when the property is in a subtype class that has been "rolled up" to the superclass table using `javax.jdo.annotations.Inheritance` > with the `javax.jdo.annotations.InheritanceStrategy#SUPERCLASS_TABLE` superclass strategy.

This annotation, therefore, is intended to override any objectstore-specific annotation, so that Causeway can apply the constraint even though the objectstore is unable to do so.

[#NOT_SPECIFIED]
=== NOT_SPECIFIED

Ignore the value provided by this annotation (meaning that the framework will keep searching, in meta annotations or superclasses/interfaces).
