Java Reflection API [一]

Java Reflection is a process of examining or modifying the run time behavior of a class at run time.

The java.lang.Class class provides many methods that can be used to get metadata, examine and change the run time behavior of a class.

The java.lang and java.lang.reflect packages provide classes for java reflection.

Where it is used
The Reflection API is mainly used in:

• IDE (Integrated Development Environment) e.g. Eclipse, MyEclipse, NetBeans etc.
• Debugger
• Test Tools etc.

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java.lang.Class class

The java.lang.Class class performs mainly two tasks:

• provides methods to get the metadata of a class at run time.
• provides methods to examine and change the run time behavior of a class.

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How to get the object of Class class?

There are 3 ways to get the instance of Class class. They are as follows:

• forName() method of Class class
• getClass() method of Object class

• the .class syntax
  1) forName() method of Class class

• is used to load the class dynamically.
• returns the instance of Class class.
• It should be used if you know the fully qualified name of class.This cannot be used for primitive types.

Let's see the simple example of forName() method.

class Simple{}  

class Test{  
 public static void main(String args[]){  
   Class c=Class.forName("Simple");  
   System.out.println(c.getName());  
 }  
}  

2) getClass() method of Object class

It returns the instance of Class class. It should be used if you know the type. Moreover, it can be used with primitives.

class Simple{}  

class Test{  
  void printName(Object obj){  
    Class c=obj.getClass();    
    System.out.println(c.getName());  
  }  
  public static void main(String args[]){  
    Simple s=new Simple();  

    Test t=new Test();  
    t.printName(s);  
  }  
} 

3) The .class syntax

If a type is available but there is no instance then it is possible to obtain a Class by appending ".class" to the name of the type.It can be used for primitive data type also.

class Test{  
  public static void main(String args[]){  
    Class c = boolean.class;   
    System.out.println(c.getName());  

    Class c2 = Test.class;   
    System.out.println(c2.getName());  
  }  
}  

Determining the class object

Following methods of Class class is used to determine the class object:

1. public boolean isInterface(): determines if the specified Class object represents an interface type.
2. public boolean isArray(): determines if this Class object represents an array class.
3. public boolean isPrimitive(): determines if the specified Class object represents a primitive type.
   Let's see the simple example of reflection api to determine the object type.

class Simple{}  
interface My{}  

class Test{  
 public static void main(String args[]){  
  try{  
   Class c=Class.forName("Simple");  
   System.out.println(c.isInterface());  

   Class c2=Class.forName("My");  
   System.out.println(c2.isInterface());  

  }catch(Exception e){System.out.println(e);}  

 }  
}  

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source:
https://www.javatpoint.com/java-reflection