Why do struct fields such as status and spec have omitempty tag?

[therealak12]

The generated code contains an omitempty tag for top-level struct fields but AFAIK it doesn't have any effect for struct fields.

• Why do we add this tag when it has no effect?
• What if we change the type of status field into pointer?

Status ApplicationStatus `json:"status,omitempty"

[camilamacedo86]

Hi @therealak12,

That means that the spec value is not mandatory and can be empty.
Please, see: https://book.kubebuilder.io/reference/markers.html?highlight=omitempty#difference-between--optional-and--kubebuildervalidationoptional

[therealak12]

Hi @camilamacedo86

Thanks!

[camilamacedo86]

Closing since it is answered.