Java Reflection Utility Class

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Java Reflection makes it possible to inspect classes, interfaces, fields, and methods at runtime, without knowing the names of the classes, methods, etc at compile time. It is also possible to instantiate new objects, invoke methods, and get/set field values using reflection.

In this article, we will see the Reflection utility class which contains a list of commonly used generic utility methods. These methods are well tested in our local development environment and check out all the useful methods.

Don't forget to check out: Top Reflection Utility Methods

The below class diagram shows a list of Reflection APIs offered by ReflectionUtils class.

Java Reflection Utility Class

2. ReflectionUtils.java

package com.javaguides.reflection.methods;

import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
import java.lang.reflect.Field;
import java.lang.reflect.Member;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;
import java.lang.reflect.Modifier;
import java.lang.reflect.UndeclaredThrowableException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.List;

/**
 * Generic static methods related Java Reflection. 
 * @author javaguides.net
 *
 */
public class ReflectionUtils {

    /**
     * Attempt to find a {@link Method} on the supplied class with the supplied
     * name and parameter types. Searches all superclasses up to {@code Object}.
     * <p>
     * Returns {@code null} if no {@link Method} can be found.
     * 
     * @param clazz
     *            the class to introspect
     * @param name
     *            the name of the method
     * @param paramTypes
     *            the parameter types of the method (may be {@code null} to
     *            indicate any signature)
     * @return the Method object, or {@code null} if none found
     */

    public static Method findMethod(Class << ? > clazz, String name) {
        Class << ? > searchType = clazz;
        while (searchType != null) {
            Method[] methods = (searchType.isInterface() ? searchType.getMethods() :
                searchType.getDeclaredMethods());
            for (Method method: methods) {
                if (name.equals(method.getName())) {
                    return method;
                }
            }
            searchType = searchType.getSuperclass();
        }
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Invoke the specified {@link Method} against the supplied target object
     * with no arguments. The target object can be {@code null} when invoking a
     * static {@link Method}.
     * <p>
     * Thrown exceptions are handled via a call to
     * {@link #handleReflectionException}.
     * 
     * @param method
     *            the method to invoke
     * @param target
     *            the target object to invoke the method on
     * @return the invocation result, if any
     * @see #invokeMethod(java.lang.reflect.Method, Object, Object[])
     */

    public static Object invokeMethod(Method method, Object target) {
        return invokeMethod(method, target, new Object[0]);
    }

    /**
     * Get Method by passing class and method name.
     * 
     * @param clazz
     * @param methodName
     * @return
     */
    public static Method getMethod(Class clazz, String methodName) {
        final Method[] methods = clazz.getMethods();
        for (Method method: methods) {
            if (method.getName().equals(methodName)) {
                method.setAccessible(true);
                return method;
            }
        }
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Invoke the specified {@link Method} against the supplied target object
     * with the supplied arguments. The target object can be {@code null} when
     * invoking a static {@link Method}.
     * <p>
     * Thrown exceptions are handled via a call to
     * {@link #handleReflectionException}.
     * 
     * @param method
     *            the method to invoke
     * @param target
     *            the target object to invoke the method on
     * @param args
     *            the invocation arguments (may be {@code null})
     * @return the invocation result, if any
     */

    public static Object invokeMethod(Method method, Object target, Object...args) {
        try {
            return method.invoke(target, args);
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            handleReflectionException(ex);
        }
        throw new IllegalStateException("Should never get here");
    }

    /**
     * Determine whether the given method is an "equals" method.
     * 
     * @see java.lang.Object#equals(Object)
     */
    public static boolean isEqualsMethod(Method method) {
        if (method == null || !method.getName().equals("equals")) {
            return false;
        }
        Class << ? > [] paramTypes = method.getParameterTypes();
        return (paramTypes.length == 1 && paramTypes[0] == Object.class);
    }

    /**
     * Determine whether the given method is a "hashCode" method.
     * 
     * @see java.lang.Object#hashCode()
     */
    public static boolean isHashCodeMethod(Method method) {
        return (method != null && method.getName().equals("hashCode") && method.getParameterCount() == 0);
    }

    /**
     * Determine whether the given method is a "toString" method.
     * 
     * @see java.lang.Object#toString()
     */
    public static boolean isToStringMethod(Method method) {
        return (method != null && method.getName().equals("toString") && method.getParameterCount() == 0);
    }

    /**
     * Determine whether the given method is originally declared by
     * {@link java.lang.Object}.
     */
    public static boolean isObjectMethod(Method method) {
        if (method == null) {
            return false;
        }
        try {
            Object.class.getDeclaredMethod(method.getName(), method.getParameterTypes());
            return true;
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            return false;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Make the given method accessible, explicitly setting it accessible if
     * necessary. The {@code setAccessible(true)} method is only called when
     * actually necessary, to avoid unnecessary conflicts with a JVM
     * SecurityManager (if active).
     * 
     * @param method
     *            the method to make accessible
     * @see java.lang.reflect.Method#setAccessible
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation") // on JDK 9
    public static void makeAccessible(Method method) {
        if ((!Modifier.isPublic(method.getModifiers()) ||
                !Modifier.isPublic(method.getDeclaringClass().getModifiers())) &&
            !method.isAccessible()) {
            method.setAccessible(true);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Finds all setters in the given class and super classes.
     */
    public static List < Method > getSetters(Class << ? > clazz) {
        Method[] methods = clazz.getMethods();

        List < Method > list = new ArrayList < Method > ();

        for (Method method: methods) {
            if (isSetter(method)) {
                list.add(method);
            }
        }

        return list;
    }

    public static boolean isSetter(Method method) {
        return method.getReturnType().equals(Void.TYPE) &&
            !Modifier.isStatic(method.getModifiers()) && method.getParameterTypes().length == 1;
    }

    /**
     * Finds a public method of the given name, regardless of its parameter
     * definitions,
     */
    public static Method getPublicMethodNamed(Class c, String methodName) {
        for (Method m: c.getMethods())
            if (m.getName().equals(methodName))
                return m;
        return null;
    }

    public static ClassLoader getDefaultClassLoader() {
        try {
            return Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
        } catch (Throwable ex) {
            /* ignore */
        }
        return ClassLoader.getSystemClassLoader();
    }

    public static boolean isPublic(Class << ? > clazz) {
        return Modifier.isPublic(clazz.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isPublic(Member member) {
        return Modifier.isPublic(member.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isPrivate(Class << ? > clazz) {
        return Modifier.isPrivate(clazz.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isPrivate(Member member) {
        return Modifier.isPrivate(member.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isNotPrivate(Member member) {
        return !isPrivate(member);
    }

    public static boolean isAbstract(Class << ? > clazz) {
        return Modifier.isAbstract(clazz.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isAbstract(Member member) {
        return Modifier.isAbstract(member.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isStatic(Class << ? > clazz) {
        return Modifier.isStatic(clazz.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isStatic(Member member) {
        return Modifier.isStatic(member.getModifiers());
    }

    public static boolean isNotStatic(Member member) {
        return !isStatic(member);
    }

    /**
     * Determine if the supplied class is an <em>inner class</em> (i.e., a
     * non-static member class).
     *
     * <p>
     * Technically speaking (i.e., according to the Java Language
     * Specification), "an inner class may be a non-static member class, a local
     * class, or an anonymous class." However, this method does not return
     * {@code true} for a local or anonymous class.
     *
     * @param clazz
     *            the class to check; never {@code null}
     * @return {@code true} if the class is an <em>inner class</em>
     */
    public static boolean isInnerClass(Class << ? > clazz) {
        return !isStatic(clazz) && clazz.isMemberClass();
    }

    public static boolean returnsVoid(Method method) {
        return method.getReturnType().equals(Void.TYPE);
    }

    /**
     * Determine if the supplied object is an array.
     *
     * @param obj
     *            the object to test; potentially {@code null}
     * @return {@code true} if the object is an array
     */
    public static boolean isArray(Object obj) {
        return (obj != null && obj.getClass().isArray());
    }

    /**
     * Attempt to find a {@link Field field} on the supplied {@link Class} with
     * the supplied {@code name} and/or {@link Class type}. Searches all
     * superclasses up to {@link Object}.
     * 
     * @param clazz
     *            the class to introspect
     * @param name
     *            the name of the field (may be {@code null} if type is
     *            specified)
     * @param type
     *            the type of the field (may be {@code null} if name is
     *            specified)
     * @return the corresponding Field object, or {@code null} if not found
     */

    public static Field findField(Class << ? > clazz, String name) {
        Class << ? > searchType = clazz;
        while (Object.class != searchType && searchType != null) {
            Field[] fields = searchType.getDeclaredFields();
            for (Field field: fields) {
                if ((name == null || name.equals(field.getName()))) {
                    return field;
                }
            }
            searchType = searchType.getSuperclass();
        }
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Set the field represented by the supplied {@link Field field object} on
     * the specified {@link Object target object} to the specified
     * {@code value}. In accordance with {@link Field#set(Object, Object)}
     * semantics, the new value is automatically unwrapped if the underlying
     * field has a primitive type.
     * <p>
     * Thrown exceptions are handled via a call to
     * {@link #handleReflectionException(Exception)}.
     * 
     * @param field
     *            the field to set
     * @param target
     *            the target object on which to set the field
     * @param value
     *            the value to set (may be {@code null})
     */
    public static void setField(Field field, Object target, Object value) {
        try {
            field.set(target, value);
        } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
            throw new IllegalStateException(
                "Unexpected reflection exception - " + ex.getClass().getName() + ": " + ex.getMessage());
        }
    }

    /**
     * Get the field represented by the supplied {@link Field field object} on
     * the specified {@link Object target object}. In accordance with
     * {@link Field#get(Object)} semantics, the returned value is automatically
     * wrapped if the underlying field has a primitive type.
     * <p>
     * Thrown exceptions are handled via a call to
     * {@link #handleReflectionException(Exception)}.
     * 
     * @param field
     *            the field to get
     * @param target
     *            the target object from which to get the field
     * @return the field's current value
     */

    public static Object getField(Field field, Object target) {
        try {
            return field.get(target);
        } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
            throw new IllegalStateException(
                "Unexpected reflection exception - " + ex.getClass().getName() + ": " + ex.getMessage());
        }
    }

    /**
     * Handle the given reflection exception. Should only be called if no
     * checked exception is expected to be thrown by the target method.
     * <p>
     * Throws the underlying RuntimeException or Error in case of an
     * InvocationTargetException with such a root cause. Throws an
     * IllegalStateException with an appropriate message or
     * UndeclaredThrowableException otherwise.
     * 
     * @param ex
     *            the reflection exception to handle
     */
    public static void handleReflectionException(Exception ex) {
        if (ex instanceof NoSuchMethodException) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Method not found: " + ex.getMessage());
        }
        if (ex instanceof IllegalAccessException) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Could not access method: " + ex.getMessage());
        }
        if (ex instanceof RuntimeException) {
            throw (RuntimeException) ex;
        }
        throw new UndeclaredThrowableException(ex);
    }

    /**
     * Get field from class.
     * 
     * @param clazz
     * @param fieldName
     * @return
     */
    public static Field getField(Class clazz, String fieldName) {
        try {
            final Field f = clazz.getDeclaredField(fieldName);
            f.setAccessible(true);
            return f;
        } catch (NoSuchFieldException ignored) {}
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Make the given field accessible, explicitly setting it accessible if
     * necessary. The {@code setAccessible(true)} method is only called when
     * actually necessary, to avoid unnecessary conflicts with a JVM
     * SecurityManager (if active).
     * 
     * @param field
     *            the field to make accessible
     * @see java.lang.reflect.Field#setAccessible
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation") // on JDK 9
    public static void makeAccessible(Field field) {
        if ((!Modifier.isPublic(field.getModifiers()) ||
                !Modifier.isPublic(field.getDeclaringClass().getModifiers()) ||
                Modifier.isFinal(field.getModifiers())) && !field.isAccessible()) {
            field.setAccessible(true);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Determine whether the given field is a "public static final" constant.
     * 
     * @param field
     *            the field to check
     */
    public static boolean isPublicStaticFinal(Field field) {
        int modifiers = field.getModifiers();
        return (Modifier.isPublic(modifiers) && Modifier.isStatic(modifiers) &&
            Modifier.isFinal(modifiers));
    }

    /**
     * This variant retrieves {@link Class#getDeclaredFields()} from a local
     * cache in order to avoid the JVM's SecurityManager check and defensive
     * array copying.
     * 
     * @param clazz
     *            the class to introspect
     * @return the cached array of fields
     * @throws IllegalStateException
     *             if introspection fails
     * @see Class#getDeclaredFields()
     */
    private static Field[] getDeclaredFields(Class << ? > clazz) {
        return clazz.getDeclaredFields();
    }

    public static Field getFieldByNameIncludingSuperclasses(String fieldName, Class << ? > clazz) {
        Field retValue = null;

        try {
            retValue = clazz.getDeclaredField(fieldName);
        } catch (NoSuchFieldException e) {
            Class << ? > superclass = clazz.getSuperclass();

            if (superclass != null) {
                retValue = getFieldByNameIncludingSuperclasses(fieldName, superclass);
            }
        }

        return retValue;
    }

    public static List < Field > getFieldsIncludingSuperclasses(Class << ? > clazz) {
        List < Field > fields = new ArrayList < Field > (Arrays.asList(clazz.getDeclaredFields()));

        Class << ? > superclass = clazz.getSuperclass();

        if (superclass != null) {
            fields.addAll(getFieldsIncludingSuperclasses(superclass));
        }

        return fields;
    }

    /**
     * Make the given constructor accessible, explicitly setting it accessible
     * if necessary. The {@code setAccessible(true)} method is only called when
     * actually necessary, to avoid unnecessary conflicts with a JVM
     * SecurityManager (if active).
     * 
     * @param ctor
     *            the constructor to make accessible
     * @see java.lang.reflect.Constructor#setAccessible
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("deprecation") // on JDK 9
    public static void makeAccessible(Constructor << ? > ctor) {
        if ((!Modifier.isPublic(ctor.getModifiers()) ||
                !Modifier.isPublic(ctor.getDeclaringClass().getModifiers())) &&
            !ctor.isAccessible()) {
            ctor.setAccessible(true);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Obtain an accessible constructor for the given class and parameters.
     * 
     * @param clazz
     *            the clazz to check
     * @param parameterTypes
     *            the parameter types of the desired constructor
     * @return the constructor reference
     * @throws NoSuchMethodException
     *             if no such constructor exists
     * @since 5.0
     */
    public static < T > Constructor < T > accessibleConstructor(Class < T > clazz, Class << ? > ...parameterTypes)
    throws NoSuchMethodException {

        Constructor < T > ctor = clazz.getDeclaredConstructor(parameterTypes);
        makeAccessible(ctor);
        return ctor;
    }
}

3. Related Posts

• Overview of Java Reflection API
• Java Reflection for Classes
• Java Reflection for Methods
• Java Reflection for Fields
• Java Reflection for Constructors
• Java Reflection for Arrays
• Top Reflection Utility Methods
• Java Reflection for Enums