In Java, the java.lang.Class class is a fundamental part of the Reflection API. It allows you to inspect and manipulate the runtime behavior of a Java program. java.lang.Class provides information about a class or interface, such as its fields, methods, constructors, and more.
Introduction to java.lang.Class
The java.lang.Class class is the entry point for all Java Reflection operations. It represents a class or interface in a running Java application. You can use it to obtain information about the class such as its name, modifiers, fields, methods, and more.
Getting a String Class Object
To obtain a Class object, you can use one of the following methods:
Creating CustomClass
Inspecting CustomClass Information
You can retrieve various information about a class using java.lang.Class:
Creating Instances Dynamically
Reflection allows you to create objects dynamically:
Working with Fields
Reflection allows you to access and manipulate fields:
Working with Methods
You can also work with methods using Reflection:
Conclusion
The java.lang.Class class and Reflection API provide powerful tools for dynamically inspecting and manipulating Java classes at runtime. This can be particularly useful for tasks like creating instances, accessing private members, and working with annotations.
Remember to use Reflection judiciously, as it can introduce complexity and impact performance. It’s best suited for tasks where the structure of the program is not known at compile time.
