Summary

Correct Processor.process method to not imply types are the only kind of element that can be processed.

Problem

As currently written, the Processor.process implies only type elements can be processed while package elements and module elements are also subject to annotation processing.

Solution

Update the specification of Processor.process and add an explanatory note to RoundEnvironment.getRootElements.

Specification

--- a/src/java.compiler/share/classes/javax/annotation/processing/Processor.java
+++ b/src/java.compiler/share/classes/javax/annotation/processing/Processor.java
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ public interface Processor {
     void init(ProcessingEnvironment processingEnv);

     /**
-     * Processes a set of annotation interfaces on type elements
+     * Processes a set of annotation interfaces on {@linkplain RoundEnvironment#getRootElements() root elements}
      * originating from the prior round and returns whether or not
      * these annotation interfaces are claimed by this processor.  If {@code
      * true} is returned, the annotation interfaces are claimed and subsequent
diff --git a/src/java.compiler/share/classes/javax/annotation/processing/RoundEnvironment.java b/src/java.compiler/share/classes/javax/annotation/processing/RoundEnvironment.java
index c50c6b787a6..3ff6b05a79e 100644
--- a/src/java.compiler/share/classes/javax/annotation/processing/RoundEnvironment.java
+++ b/src/java.compiler/share/classes/javax/annotation/processing/RoundEnvironment.java
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@

 package javax.annotation.processing;

-import javax.lang.model.element.Element;
-import javax.lang.model.element.TypeElement;
+import javax.lang.model.element.*;
 import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -58,9 +57,16 @@ public interface RoundEnvironment {
     boolean errorRaised();

     /**
-     * Returns the {@linkplain Processor root elements} for annotation processing generated
+     * Returns the {@linkplain Processor root elements} for annotation processing {@linkplain Filer generated}
      * by the prior round.
      *
+     * @apiNote
+     * Root elements correspond to the top-level declarations in
+     * compilation units (JLS section {@jls 7.3}). Root elements are
+     * most commonly {@linkplain TypeElement types}, but can also be
+     * {@linkplain PackageElement packages} or {@linkplain
+     * ModuleElement modules}.
+     *
      * @return the root elements for annotation processing generated
      * by the prior round, or an empty set if there were none