Also: SpringCore
package

org.springframework.core.annotation

Core support package for Java 5 annotations.

Classes

AnnotationAwareOrderComparator java.util.Comparator implementation that checks Ordered as well as the Order annotation, with an order value provided by an Ordered instance overriding a statically defined annotation value (if any). 
AnnotationUtils General utility methods for working with annotations, handling bridge methods (which the compiler generates for generic declarations) as well as super methods (for optional "annotation inheritance").