Improve documentation

UserGuide.md

@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ BagOfPrimitives obj2 = gson.fromJson(json, BagOfPrimitives.class);
   * While serializing, a null field is omitted from the output.
   * While deserializing, a missing entry in JSON results in setting the corresponding field in the object to its default value: null for object types, zero for numeric types, and false for booleans.
 * If a field is _synthetic_, it is ignored and not included in JSON serialization or deserialization.
-* Fields corresponding to the outer classes in inner classes, anonymous classes, and local classes are ignored and not included in serialization or deserialization.
+* Fields corresponding to the outer classes in inner classes are ignored and not included in serialization or deserialization.
+* Anonymous and local classes are excluded. They will be serialized as JSON `null` and when deserialized their JSON value is ignored and `null` is returned. Convert the classes to `static` nested classes to enable serialization and deserialization for them.
 
 ### <a name="TOC-Nested-Classes-including-Inner-Classes-"></a>Nested Classes (including Inner Classes)
 

gson/src/main/java/com/google/gson/ExclusionStrategy.java

@@ -17,11 +17,8 @@
 package com.google.gson;
 
 /**
- * A strategy (or policy) definition that is used to decide whether or not a field or top-level
- * class should be serialized or deserialized as part of the JSON output/input. For serialization,
- * if the {@link #shouldSkipClass(Class)} method returns true then that class or field type
- * will not be part of the JSON output. For deserialization, if {@link #shouldSkipClass(Class)}
- * returns true, then it will not be set as part of the Java object structure.
+ * A strategy (or policy) definition that is used to decide whether or not a field or
+ * class should be serialized or deserialized as part of the JSON output/input.
  *
  * <p>The following are a few examples that shows how you can use this exclusion mechanism.
  *
@@ -64,7 +61,7 @@
  *
  * <p>Now if you want to configure {@code Gson} to use a user defined exclusion strategy, then
  * the {@code GsonBuilder} is required. The following is an example of how you can use the
- * {@code GsonBuilder} to configure Gson to use one of the above sample:
+ * {@code GsonBuilder} to configure Gson to use one of the above samples:
  * <pre class="code">
  * ExclusionStrategy excludeStrings = new UserDefinedExclusionStrategy(String.class);
  * Gson gson = new GsonBuilder()

gson/src/main/java/com/google/gson/GsonBuilder.java

@@ -156,8 +156,11 @@ public GsonBuilder setVersion(double ignoreVersionsAfter) {
 
   /**
    * Configures Gson to excludes all class fields that have the specified modifiers. By default,
-   * Gson will exclude all fields marked transient or static. This method will override that
-   * behavior.
+   * Gson will exclude all fields marked {@code transient} or {@code static}. This method will
+   * override that behavior.
+   *
+   * <p>This is a convenience method which behaves as if an {@link ExclusionStrategy} which
+   * excludes these fields was {@linkplain #setExclusionStrategies(ExclusionStrategy...) registered with this builder}.
    *
    * @param modifiers the field modifiers. You must use the modifiers specified in the
    * {@link java.lang.reflect.Modifier} class. For example,
@@ -186,9 +189,12 @@ public GsonBuilder generateNonExecutableJson() {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Configures Gson to exclude all fields from consideration for serialization or deserialization
+   * Configures Gson to exclude all fields from consideration for serialization and deserialization
    * that do not have the {@link com.google.gson.annotations.Expose} annotation.
    *
+   * <p>This is a convenience method which behaves as if an {@link ExclusionStrategy} which excludes
+   * these fields was {@linkplain #setExclusionStrategies(ExclusionStrategy...) registered with this builder}.
+   *
    * @return a reference to this {@code GsonBuilder} object to fulfill the "Builder" pattern
    */
   public GsonBuilder excludeFieldsWithoutExposeAnnotation() {
@@ -291,7 +297,20 @@ public GsonBuilder enableComplexMapKeySerialization() {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Configures Gson to exclude inner classes during serialization.
+   * Configures Gson to exclude inner classes (= non-{@code static} nested classes) during serialization
+   * and deserialization. This is a convenience method which behaves as if an {@link ExclusionStrategy}
+   * which excludes inner classes was {@linkplain #setExclusionStrategies(ExclusionStrategy...) registered with this builder}.
+   * This means inner classes will be serialized as JSON {@code null}, and will be deserialized as
+   * Java {@code null} with their JSON data being ignored. And fields with an inner class as type will
+   * be ignored during serialization and deserialization.
+   *
+   * <p>By default Gson serializes and deserializes inner classes, but ignores references to the
+   * enclosing instance. Deserialization might not be possible at all when {@link #disableJdkUnsafe()}
+   * is used (and no custom {@link InstanceCreator} is registered), or it can lead to unexpected
+   * {@code NullPointerException}s when the deserialized instance is used afterwards.
+   *
+   * <p>In general using inner classes with Gson should be avoided; they should be converted to {@code static}
+   * nested classes if possible.
    *
    * @return a reference to this {@code GsonBuilder} object to fulfill the "Builder" pattern
    * @since 1.3
@@ -369,6 +388,16 @@ public GsonBuilder setNumberToNumberStrategy(ToNumberStrategy numberToNumberStra
    * The strategies are added to the existing strategies (if any); the existing strategies
    * are not replaced.
    *
+   * <p>Fields are excluded for serialization and deserialization when
+   * {@link ExclusionStrategy#shouldSkipField(FieldAttributes) shouldSkipField} returns {@code true},
+   * or when {@link ExclusionStrategy#shouldSkipClass(Class) shouldSkipClass} returns {@code true}
+   * for the field type. Gson behaves as if the field did not exist; its value is not serialized
+   * and on deserialization if a JSON member with this name exists it is skipped by default.<br>
+   * When objects of an excluded type (as determined by
+   * {@link ExclusionStrategy#shouldSkipClass(Class) shouldSkipClass}) are serialized a
+   * JSON null is written to output, and when deserialized the JSON value is skipped and
+   * {@code null} is returned.
+   *
    * @param strategies the set of strategy object to apply during object (de)serialization.
    * @return a reference to this {@code GsonBuilder} object to fulfill the "Builder" pattern
    * @since 1.4
@@ -389,6 +418,9 @@ public GsonBuilder setExclusionStrategies(ExclusionStrategy... strategies) {
    * class) should be skipped then that field (or object) is skipped during its
    * serialization.
    *
+   * <p>See the documentation of {@link #setExclusionStrategies(ExclusionStrategy...)}
+   * for a detailed description of the effect of exclusion strategies.
+   *
    * @param strategy an exclusion strategy to apply during serialization.
    * @return a reference to this {@code GsonBuilder} object to fulfill the "Builder" pattern
    * @since 1.7
@@ -407,6 +439,9 @@ public GsonBuilder addSerializationExclusionStrategy(ExclusionStrategy strategy)
    * class) should be skipped then that field (or object) is skipped during its
    * deserialization.
    *
+   * <p>See the documentation of {@link #setExclusionStrategies(ExclusionStrategy...)}
+   * for a detailed description of the effect of exclusion strategies.
+   *
    * @param strategy an exclusion strategy to apply during deserialization.
    * @return a reference to this {@code GsonBuilder} object to fulfill the "Builder" pattern
    * @since 1.7

gson/src/main/java/com/google/gson/JsonArray.java

@@ -387,11 +387,20 @@ public boolean getAsBoolean() {
     return getAsSingleElement().getAsBoolean();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns whether the other object is equal to this. This method only considers
+   * the other object to be equal if it is an instance of {@code JsonArray} and has
+   * equal elements in the same order.
+   */
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object o) {
     return (o == this) || (o instanceof JsonArray && ((JsonArray) o).elements.equals(elements));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the hash code of this array. This method calculates the hash code based
+   * on the elements of this array.
+   */
   @Override
   public int hashCode() {
     return elements.hashCode();

gson/src/main/java/com/google/gson/JsonDeserializer.java

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 import java.lang.reflect.Type;
 
 /**
- * <p>Interface representing a custom deserializer for Json. You should write a custom
+ * <p>Interface representing a custom deserializer for JSON. You should write a custom
  * deserializer, if you are not happy with the default deserialization done by Gson. You will
  * also need to register this deserializer through
  * {@link GsonBuilder#registerTypeAdapter(Type, Object)}.</p>
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@
  * </pre>
  *
  * <p>The default deserialization of {@code Id(com.foo.MyObject.class, 20L)} will require the
- * Json string to be <code>{"clazz":com.foo.MyObject,"value":20}</code>. Suppose, you already know
+ * JSON string to be <code>{"clazz":"com.foo.MyObject","value":20}</code>. Suppose, you already know
  * the type of the field that the {@code Id} will be deserialized into, and hence just want to
- * deserialize it from a Json string {@code 20}. You can achieve that by writing a custom
+ * deserialize it from a JSON string {@code 20}. You can achieve that by writing a custom
  * deserializer:</p>
  *
  * <pre>

gson/src/main/java/com/google/gson/JsonNull.java

@@ -17,32 +17,33 @@
 package com.google.gson;
 
 /**
- * A class representing a Json {@code null} value.
+ * A class representing a JSON {@code null} value.
  *
  * @author Inderjeet Singh
  * @author Joel Leitch
  * @since 1.2
  */
 public final class JsonNull extends JsonElement {
   /**
-   * Singleton for JsonNull
+   * Singleton for {@code JsonNull}.
    *
    * @since 1.8
    */
   public static final JsonNull INSTANCE = new JsonNull();
 
   /**
-   * Creates a new JsonNull object.
+   * Creates a new {@code JsonNull} object.
    *
-   * @deprecated Deprecated since Gson version 1.8. Use {@link #INSTANCE} instead
+   * @deprecated Deprecated since Gson version 1.8, use {@link #INSTANCE} instead.
    */
   @Deprecated
   public JsonNull() {
     // Do nothing
   }
 
   /**
-   * Returns the same instance since it is an immutable value
+   * Returns the same instance since it is an immutable value.
+   *
    * @since 2.8.2
    */
   @Override
@@ -51,15 +52,15 @@ public JsonNull deepCopy() {
   }
 
   /**
-   * All instances of JsonNull have the same hash code since they are indistinguishable
+   * All instances of {@code JsonNull} have the same hash code since they are indistinguishable.
    */
   @Override
   public int hashCode() {
     return JsonNull.class.hashCode();
   }
 
   /**
-   * All instances of JsonNull are the same
+   * All instances of {@code JsonNull} are considered equal.
    */
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object other) {

gson/src/main/java/com/google/gson/JsonObject.java

@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ public JsonObject() {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Creates a deep copy of this element and all its children
+   * Creates a deep copy of this element and all its children.
+   *
    * @since 2.8.2
    */
   @Override
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ public JsonObject deepCopy() {
 
   /**
    * Adds a member, which is a name-value pair, to self. The name must be a String, but the value
-   * can be an arbitrary JsonElement, thereby allowing you to build a full tree of JsonElements
+   * can be an arbitrary {@link JsonElement}, thereby allowing you to build a full tree of JsonElements
    * rooted at this node.
    *
    * @param property name of the member.
@@ -66,19 +67,20 @@ public void add(String property, JsonElement value) {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Removes the {@code property} from this {@link JsonObject}.
+   * Removes the {@code property} from this object.
    *
    * @param property name of the member that should be removed.
-   * @return the {@link JsonElement} object that is being removed.
+   * @return the {@link JsonElement} object that is being removed, or {@code null} if no
+   *   member with this name exists.
    * @since 1.3
    */
   public JsonElement remove(String property) {
     return members.remove(property);
   }
 
   /**
-   * Convenience method to add a primitive member. The specified value is converted to a
-   * JsonPrimitive of String.
+   * Convenience method to add a string member. The specified value is converted to a
+   * {@link JsonPrimitive} of String.
    *
    * @param property name of the member.
    * @param value the string value associated with the member.
@@ -88,8 +90,8 @@ public void addProperty(String property, String value) {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Convenience method to add a primitive member. The specified value is converted to a
-   * JsonPrimitive of Number.
+   * Convenience method to add a number member. The specified value is converted to a
+   * {@link JsonPrimitive} of Number.
    *
    * @param property name of the member.
    * @param value the number value associated with the member.
@@ -100,21 +102,21 @@ public void addProperty(String property, Number value) {
 
   /**
    * Convenience method to add a boolean member. The specified value is converted to a
-   * JsonPrimitive of Boolean.
+   * {@link JsonPrimitive} of Boolean.
    *
    * @param property name of the member.
-   * @param value the number value associated with the member.
+   * @param value the boolean value associated with the member.
    */
   public void addProperty(String property, Boolean value) {
     add(property, value == null ? JsonNull.INSTANCE : new JsonPrimitive(value));
   }
 
   /**
    * Convenience method to add a char member. The specified value is converted to a
-   * JsonPrimitive of Character.
+   * {@link JsonPrimitive} of Character.
    *
    * @param property name of the member.
-   * @param value the number value associated with the member.
+   * @param value the char value associated with the member.
    */
   public void addProperty(String property, Character value) {
     add(property, value == null ? JsonNull.INSTANCE : new JsonPrimitive(value));
@@ -163,48 +165,63 @@ public boolean has(String memberName) {
    * Returns the member with the specified name.
    *
    * @param memberName name of the member that is being requested.
-   * @return the member matching the name. Null if no such member exists.
+   * @return the member matching the name, or {@code null} if no such member exists.
    */
   public JsonElement get(String memberName) {
     return members.get(memberName);
   }
 
   /**
-   * Convenience method to get the specified member as a JsonPrimitive element.
+   * Convenience method to get the specified member as a {@link JsonPrimitive}.
    *
    * @param memberName name of the member being requested.
-   * @return the JsonPrimitive corresponding to the specified member.
+   * @return the {@code JsonPrimitive} corresponding to the specified member, or {@code null} if no
+   *   member with this name exists.
+   * @throws ClassCastException if the member is not of type {@code JsonPrimitive}.
    */
   public JsonPrimitive getAsJsonPrimitive(String memberName) {
     return (JsonPrimitive) members.get(memberName);
   }
 
   /**
-   * Convenience method to get the specified member as a JsonArray.
+   * Convenience method to get the specified member as a {@link JsonArray}.
    *
    * @param memberName name of the member being requested.
-   * @return the JsonArray corresponding to the specified member.
+   * @return the {@code JsonArray} corresponding to the specified member, or {@code null} if no
+   *   member with this name exists.
+   * @throws ClassCastException if the member is not of type {@code JsonArray}.
    */
   public JsonArray getAsJsonArray(String memberName) {
     return (JsonArray) members.get(memberName);
   }
 
   /**
-   * Convenience method to get the specified member as a JsonObject.
+   * Convenience method to get the specified member as a {@link JsonObject}.
    *
    * @param memberName name of the member being requested.
-   * @return the JsonObject corresponding to the specified member.
+   * @return the {@code JsonObject} corresponding to the specified member, or {@code null} if no
+   *   member with this name exists.
+   * @throws ClassCastException if the member is not of type {@code JsonObject}.
    */
   public JsonObject getAsJsonObject(String memberName) {
     return (JsonObject) members.get(memberName);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns whether the other object is equal to this. This method only considers
+   * the other object to be equal if it is an instance of {@code JsonObject} and has
+   * equal members, ignoring order.
+   */
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object o) {
     return (o == this) || (o instanceof JsonObject
         && ((JsonObject) o).members.equals(members));
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the hash code of this object. This method calculates the hash code based
+   * on the members of this object, ignoring order.
+   */
   @Override
   public int hashCode() {
     return members.hashCode();