Java Reflection and Classes.

How do we handle the class java.lang.Class.

How do we find the Class object of an object.

  • For all existing Java class, there is a corresponding java.lang.Class object.
  • There are three ways to obtain the java.lang.Class object object:
    1. Use the class literal.
      java.lang.Class rectangleClassObject = Rectangle.class;
    2. Call the forName() static method of java.lang.Class.
      java.lang.Class rectangleClassObject = java.lang.Class.forname("Rectangle");
    3. Call the getClass() method of an object
      Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(400,300);
      java.lang.Class rectangleClassObject = rect.getClass();

How do we create an object of a class with the java.lang.Class object.

The newInstance() method

  • The newInstance() method of Class can be used to create new objects. This method requires a no-argument constructor.
    java.lang.Class rectangleClassObject = Rectangle.class;
    Rectangle rectangleObject=(Rectangle)rectangleClassObject.newInstance();
    // In this case the Rectangle class must have a no-argument constructor.
    (the return value from the newInstance() method is an java.lang.Object, so you must cast it to the right one)

How do we fetch general information about a class with the java.lang.Class object.

  • The java.lang.Class object object provides information about the class it belongs to:
    1. The name of the class.


      There is three alternative methods to use:
      // The next method will return the simple name 
      // of the underlying class as given in the source code.
      // (no package information)
      String simpleName = rectangleClassObject.getSimpleName();
      // The next method will return the canonical name 
      // of the underlying class as defined by the Java Language Specification. 
      String simpleName = rectangleClassObject.getCanonicalName();
      // The next method will return the name of the entity  
      // represented by this Class object
      String simpleName = rectangleClassObject.getName();
      // The differences between the two last methods 
      // is when you come to arrays or inner classes.
      // In the most cases they returns the same.
    2. The constructors in a Class.


      There is two alternative methods to use:
      // The next method will return public, protected 
      // and private contructors in the class, Rectangle
      Constructor [] constructors = rectangleClassObject.getConstructors();
      // The next method will return only 
      // public contructors in the class, Rectangle
      Constructor [] constructors = rectangleClassObject.getDeclaredConstructors();
      You will find more about constructors here.
    3. The methods in a Class.


      There is two alternative methods to use:
      // The next method will return only public 
      // methods in the class, Rectangle, and those inherited from superclasses.
      Method [] methods = rectangleClassObject.getMethods();
      // The next method will return public, protected and private 
      // methods in the class, Rectangle, but excludes inherited methods.
      Method [] methods = rectangleClassObject.getDeclaredMethods();
      You will find more about methods here.
    4. The fields in a Class.


      There is two alternative methods to use:
      // The next method will return only public 
      // Fields in the class, Rectangle, and those inherited from superclasses.
      Field [] fields = rectangleClassObject.getFields();
      // The next method will return public, protected and private 
      // Fields in the class, Rectangle, but excludes inherited Fields.
      Field [] fieldss = rectangleClassObject.getDeclaredFields();
      You will find more about fields here.
    5. The annotations in a Class.

      There is two alternative methods to use:
      // The next method will return only public 
      // Annotations in the class, Rectangle, and those inherited from superclasses.
      Annotation [] annotations = rectangleClassObject.getAnnotations();
      // The next method will return public, protected and private 
      // Annotations in the class, Rectangle, but excludes inherited Annotations.
      Annotation [] annotations = rectangleClassObject.getDeclaredAnnotations();
    6. The interfaces in a Class.

      // The next method will return Class objects for 
      // interfaces implemented by the class, Rectangle. 
      // No extended interfaces on those interfaces are included.
      Class [] interfaces = rectangleClassObject.getInterfaces();
      // (If rectangleClassObject was a interface
      // object extended interfaces are included.)
    7. The super-class in a Class.

      Class  superClassObject = rectangleClassObject.getSuperclass();
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