src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/ref/WeakReference.java

*** 24,14 ***
--- 24,18 ---
   */
  
  package java.lang.ref;
  
  
+ import java.util.Objects;
+ 
  /**
   * Weak reference objects, which do not prevent their referents from being
   * made finalizable, finalized, and then reclaimed.  Weak references are most
   * often used to implement canonicalizing mappings.
+  * <p>
+  * The referent must be an {@linkplain Objects#isIdentityObject(Object) identity object}.
   *
   * <p> Suppose that the garbage collector determines at a certain point in time
   * that an object is <a href="package-summary.html#reachability">weakly
   * reachable</a>.  At that time it will atomically clear all weak references to
   * that object and all weak references to any other weakly-reachable objects

*** 51,10 ***
--- 55,12 ---
      /**
       * Creates a new weak reference that refers to the given object.  The new
       * reference is not registered with any queue.
       *
       * @param referent object the new weak reference will refer to
+      * @throws IdentityException if the referent is not an
+      *         {@link java.util.Objects#isIdentityObject(Object) identity object}
       */
      public WeakReference(T referent) {
          super(referent);
      }
  

*** 63,10 ***
--- 69,12 ---
       * registered with the given queue.
       *
       * @param referent object the new weak reference will refer to
       * @param q the queue with which the reference is to be registered,
       *          or {@code null} if registration is not required
+      * @throws IdentityException if the referent is not an
+      *         {@link java.util.Objects#isIdentityObject(Object) identity object}
       */
      public WeakReference(T referent, ReferenceQueue<? super T> q) {
          super(referent, q);
      }