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# Lifecycle Callbacks
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Complete reference for entity lifecycle event callbacks and listeners in Jakarta Persistence.
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## Imports
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```java { .api }
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import jakarta.persistence.*;
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```
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## Capabilities
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### Lifecycle Callback Annotations
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Hook into entity lifecycle events.
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```java { .api }
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/**
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 * Specifies a callback method for the corresponding lifecycle event
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 */
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PrePersist {}
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PostPersist {}
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PreUpdate {}
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PostUpdate {}
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PreRemove {}
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PostRemove {}
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@Target({METHOD})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface PostLoad {}
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/**
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 * Specifies callback listener classes
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 */
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@Target({TYPE})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface EntityListeners {
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    Class[] value();
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}
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/**
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 * Exclude default listeners
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 */
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@Target({TYPE})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface ExcludeDefaultListeners {}
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/**
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 * Exclude superclass listeners
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 */
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@Target({TYPE})
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@Retention(RUNTIME)
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public @interface ExcludeSuperclassListeners {}
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```
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**Usage Example:**
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```java
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@Entity
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@EntityListeners({AuditListener.class, ValidationListener.class})
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public class User {
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    @Id
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    private Long id;
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    private String name;
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    private LocalDateTime createdAt;
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    private LocalDateTime updatedAt;
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    @PrePersist
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    protected void onCreate() {
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        createdAt = LocalDateTime.now();
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    }
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    @PreUpdate
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    protected void onUpdate() {
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        updatedAt = LocalDateTime.now();
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    }
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    @PostLoad
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    protected void onLoad() {
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        // Initialize transient fields
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    }
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}
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public class AuditListener {
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    @PrePersist
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    public void prePersist(Object entity) {
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        // Audit logging
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    }
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    @PostPersist
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    public void postPersist(Object entity) {
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        // Post-persist actions
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    }
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}
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```
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[Complete documentation in index.md](./index.md)
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