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=== Collection type

The xref:refguide:applib:index/annotation/Action.adoc#typeOf[typeOf()] element specifies the expected type of an element returned by the action (returning a collection), when for whatever reason the type cannot be inferred from the generic type, or to provide a hint about the actual run-time (as opposed to compile-time) type.

For example:

[source,java]
----
public void AccountService {

    @Action(typeOf=Customer.class)
    public List errantAccounts() {
        return customers.allNewCustomers();
    }
    ...

    @Inject CustomerRepository customers;
}
----

In general we recommend that you use generics instead, eg `List<Customer>`.




