ProviderType
Date: 2016-06-24

org.osgi.annotation.versioning

## Annotation Type ProviderType

-     @Documented
      @Retention(value=CLASS)
      @Target(value=TYPE)
      public @interface ProviderType

  A type implemented by the Provider Role.

  A non-binary compatible change to a provider type normally requires incrementing the minor version of the type's package. This change will require all providers to be updated to handle the change, but consumers of that package will not require changes since they only use, and do not implement, the provider type.

  A type can be marked `ConsumerType` or `ProviderType` but not both. A type is assumed to be `ConsumerType` if it is not marked either `ConsumerType` or `ProviderType`.

  This annotation is not retained at runtime. It is for use by tools to understand the semantic version of a package. When a bundle implements a provider type from an imported package, then the bundle's import range for that package must require the package's exact major and minor version.

  See Also:
    Semantic Versioning