# Annotations

Annotations are a way of adding metadata to Java source code that is available to the programmer at runtime.

They play a critical role in JAX-WS, where they are used to map Java to WSDL and XML Schema, and to control how the JAX-WS runtime processes and responds to web service invocations.

When you create a JAX-WS Java First project, you need to add JAX-WS annotations to your starting point code, in order to have Eclipse automatically generate the required WSDL and stub code for your web service.

You can add annotations to types, methods, and parameters. Each method that is public within the Java class must include a `@WebRequest` annotation, while each types requires a `@WebService` annotation.

You can add annotations to your Java code using the JAX-WS menu and further refine your annotations in the Annotation Properties view.

When you create a WSDL First project, annotated code is generated for you automatically.

Related concepts
Annotation Properties view
Related tasks
Setting annotation preferences
Annotating a class
Annotating a method
Related information
JAX-WS Annotations specification