Lombok is a Java library that reduces boilerplate code by automatically generating common methods and functionality through annotations. It works at compile-time to generate code that you would otherwise have to write manually.
Key Features
- Common Annotations:
- @Getter/@Setter - Generates getter/setter methods
- @ToString - Generates toString() method
- @EqualsAndHashCode - Generates equals() and hashCode() methods
- @NoArgsConstructor/@AllArgsConstructor - Generates constructors
- @Data - Combines @Getter, @Setter, @ToString, @EqualsAndHashCode, and @RequiredArgsConstructor
- @Builder - Implements the builder pattern
- @Slf4j - Creates a logger field
Example:
// Without Lombok
public class Person {private String name;private int age;public Person() {}public Person(String name, int age) {this.name = name;this.age = age;}public String getName() { return name; }public void setName(String name) { this.name = name; }public int getAge() { return age; }public void setAge(int age) { this.age = age; }// toString, equals, hashCode methods...
}// With Lombok
@Data
@NoArgsConstructor
@AllArgsConstructor
public class Person {private String name;private int age;
}
Benefits
- Reduces code verbosity by 50-80%
- Eliminates repetitive boilerplate code
- Automatically maintains consistency when fields change
- Improves code readability and maintainability
Setup
Add to Maven dependencies:
<dependency><groupId>org.projectlombok</groupId><artifactId>lombok</artifactId><scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>
Lombok is widely used in Spring Boot applications and enterprise Java development to keep code clean and focused on business logic rather than boilerplate.