Java Reflection Introduction .

What you need to know before this learning.

  • You should have learned and understood everything under Java Basic.

Java Reflection

About handling unknown objects at runtime.

  • The Java Reflection API allows programs to find out everything about an object at runtime.
    • Java is a dynamic language and Java Reflection enables a Java class can be instantiated and loaded up, after a program has started.
    • When the instantiated object is ready, you can through the Java Reflection, perform methods that the object is implemented with.
    • In short, Java Reflection API gives developers a window in what the JVM knows about Java objects.
    • One can also say that this is all about behind the scene programming.

Fetch information about classes with the Class type object

  • The Reflection API is defined by the java.lang.Class class, and the classes and interfaces of the java.lang.reflect package.
    • With reflection, you can:
      • identify the type of en object,
      • which class it extends,
      • which interfaces it implements,
      • and which modifiers, such as public of final, apply to the class
    • You can query for:
      • the constructors,
      • methods and data members of a class,
      • and their modifiers.
    • You can instantiate a class without knowing its name at build time.
    • You can invoke methods and access data members of an object dynamically.

Used to develop tools

  • Reflection is primarily used by developers of tools, such as GUI design tools or debuggers.
    • You can use a Method object like a type-safe function pointer, but it may be better to design your calls to work with interfaces.
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