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Never use deprecated fields, methods, or classes in new code. The Java SE 6 documentation provides a complete list of deprecated APIs [API 2006]. Java also provides a provides an @deprecated annotation to indicate the deprecation of specific fields, methods, and classes. For instanceexample, many methods of java.util.Date, such as Date.getYear(), have been explicitly deprecated. Rule THI05-J. Do not use Thread.stop() to terminate threads describes issues that can result from using the deprecated Thread.stop() method.

The Java SE documentation provides a list of deprecated APIs for each version of the language:

Programmers should use the list of deprecated functions specific to the language version they are using, although it may also be possible to avoid the use of APIs that are deprecated in later versions as well if suitable alternatives are available.

Obsolete fields, methods, and classes should not be used. Java lacks any annotation that indicates obsolescence; nevertheless, several classes and methods are documented as obsolete. For instance, the java.util.DictionaryDictionary<K,V> class is marked as obsolete; new code should use java.util.Map<K,V> instead [API 20062014].

Obsolete Methods and Classes

The following methods and classes listed in the following table must not be used:

Class or Method	Replacement	Rule
`java.lang.Character.isJavaLetter()`	`java.lang.Character.isJavaIdentifierStart()`


`java.lang.Character.isJavaLetterOrDigit()`	`java.lang.Character.isJavaIdentifierPart()`


`java.lang.Character.isSpace()`	`java.lang.Character.isWhitespace()`


`java.lang.Class.newInstance()`	`java.lang.reflect.Constructor.newInstance()`	ERR06-J. Do not

let code

throw undeclared checked exceptions
`java.util.Date` (many methods)	`java.util.Calendar`

java.util.

Dictionary

Dictionary<K,V>

java.util.Map<K,V>


`java.util.Properties.save()`	`java.util.Properties.store()`


`java.lang.Thread.run()`	`java.lang.Thread.start()`	THI00-J. Do not invoke Thread.run()
`java.lang.Thread.stop()`	`java.lang.Thread.interrupt()`	THI05-J. Do not use Thread.stop() to terminate threads
`java.lang.ThreadGroup` (many methods)	`java.util.concurrent.Executor`	THI01-J. Do not invoke ThreadGroup methods
java.util.Date	java.time (since Java 8)

The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) Profiler Interface (JVMPI) and JVM Debug Interface (JVMDI) are also deprecated and have been replaced by the JVM Tool Interface (JVMTI) . See rule (see ENV05-J. Do not deploy an application that can be remotely monitored for more information).

Risk Assessment

Using deprecated or obsolete classes or methods in program code can lead to erroneous behavior.

Rule	Severity	Likelihood	Remediation Cost	Priority	Level
MET02-J

high

Low

likely

Unlikely

medium

Medium

P18

P2

L1

L3

Automated Detection

Detecting uses of deprecated methods is straightforward. Obsolete methods have no automatic means of detection.

Tool

Version

Checker

Description

Parasoft Jtest

Include Page

	Parasoft_V
	Parasoft_V

CERT.MET02.DPRAPI
CERT.MET02.THRD

Do not use deprecated APIs
Avoid calling unsafe deprecated methods of 'Thread' and 'Runtime'

SonarQube

Include Page

	SonarQube_V
	SonarQube_V

S1874

"@Deprecated" code should not be used

Related Guidelines

ISO/IEC TR 24772:2010

Deprecated

language features

Language Features [MEM]
MITRE CWE	CWE-589

.

, Call to

non

Non-ubiquitous API

Android Implementation Details

The Android SDK has deprecated and obsolete APIs. Also, there may exist incompatible APIs depending on the SDK version. Consequently, it is recommended that developers refer to the "Android API Differences Report" and consider replacing deprecated APIs.