I can't seem to use getConstructor for constructors with no parameters.
I keep getting the following exception:
java.lang.NoSuchMethodException: classname.<init>()
Here is the code:
interface InfoInterface {
String getClassName();
String getMethodName();
String getArgument();
}
class asa implements InfoInterface {
#Override
public String getClassName() {
return ("jeden");
}
#Override
public String getMethodName() {
return ("metoda");
}
#Override
public String getArgument() {
return ("krzyk");
}
}
class Jeden {
Jeden() {
System.out.println("konstruktor");
}
public void Metoda(String s) {
System.out.println(s);
}
}
class Start {
public static void main(String[] argv) {
if (argv.length == 0) {
System.err.println("Uzycie programu: java Start nazwa_klasy nazwa_klasy2...");
return;
}
try {
for (int x = 0; x < argv.length; x++) {
Class<?> c = Class.forName(argv[x]);
InfoInterface d = (InfoInterface) c.newInstance();
String klasa = d.getClassName();
String metoda = d.getMethodName();
String argument = d.getArgument();
Class<?> o = Class.forName(klasa);
// o.newInstance();
Constructor<?> oCon = o.getConstructor();
System.out.println("ASD");
Class<?> p = (Class<?>) oCon.newInstance();
}
} catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println(e);
}
}
}
o.newInstance(); prints "konstruktor" without problems.
The problem is clear when you read the javadoc of .getConstructor():
Returns a Constructor object that reflects the specified public constructor of the class represented by this Class object.
Emphasis mine.
In your code, the constructor is not public!
Example:
// Note: class is NOT public -- its default constructor won't be either
final class Test
{
public static void main(final String... args)
throws NoSuchMethodException
{
// throws NoSuchMethodException
Test.class.getConstructor();
}
}
Obligatory link to an SO answer which also gives the JLS reference. In particular, note that the default constructor has the same access modifier as the class.
It seems as if your class provides a constructor that is NOT a default constructor. The call to getConstructor() without parameters requires the class to have a default constructor. The following test illustrates this.
import org.junit.Test;
public class ConstructorTest {
public static class ClassWithParameterizedConstructor {
public ClassWithParameterizedConstructor(final String param) {
// A parameterized constructor, no default constructor exists
}
}
#Test
public void testFoo() throws NoSuchMethodException {
// Parameterized constructor lookup works fine
ClassWithParameterizedConstructor.class.getConstructor(String.class);
// This doesn't work since there is no default constructor
ClassWithParameterizedConstructor.class.getConstructor();
}
}
So, a possible solution is to either change the call to getConstructor() to include the correct type or to provide a default constructor on the object itself (but why would you do that?).
Read this: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/reflect/member/ctorInstance.html
It seems that both classes Class and Constructor have the method newInstance the difference is that in the Class class you can only call newInstance with no arguments, so the called constructor must have an no arguments (this also brings a problem when you have more that one constructor).
The methoe newInstance in the Constructor class allows you to call the constructor with arguments also, notice that you can also use the method getConstructors instead of getConstructor that returns you all the class constructors and allows you to call the constructor method you want.
In this case, since you only have one constructor only and with no arguments, Class.newInstance works fine. To use the getConstructor to have the same result you'll need to add in the end oCon.newInstance();
You can use getDeclaredConstructors() which returns an array of Constructor objects reflecting all the constructors declared by the class represented by this Class object
class SomeClass{
{
System.out.println("I'am here!");
}
}
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception{
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(SomeClass.class.getDeclaredConstructors()));
// returns public, protected, default (package) access, and private constructors
// System.out.println(SomeClass.class.getConstructor());
// in that case you got:
// NoSuchMethodException: reflection.SomeClass.<init>()
// because SomeClass don't have public constructor
for (Constructor constructor : SomeClass.class.getDeclaredConstructors()){
constructor.newInstance();
}
}
}
And if you have private constructor like this:
class SomeClass{
private SomeClass(String val){
System.out.println(val);
}
}
You have to set accessible for constructor:
constructor.setAccessible(true);
And get something like this:
class SomeClass{
private SomeClass(String val){
System.out.println(val);
}
}
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception{
for (Constructor constructor : SomeClass.class.getDeclaredConstructors()){
// constructor.newInstance("some arg"); // java.lang.IllegalAccessException
constructor.setAccessible(true);
constructor.newInstance("some arg");
}
}
}
Note: if your class declared as private his default constructor must be private too.
And be careful with nonstatic-inner classes, which receives an outer class instance
In this (somewhat convoluted) scenario, it's actually possible to get hold of the (non-public) constructor by replacing:
Constructor<?> oCon = o.getConstructor();
with
Constructor<?> oCon = o.getDeclaredConstructor();
The "default" visibility of the Jeden class (and its constructor) makes it accessible to the Start class, since it's defined in the same package.
I wrote this simple class in java just for testing some of its features.
public class class1 {
public static Integer value=0;
public class1() {
da();
}
public int da() {
class1.value=class1.value+1;
return 5;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
class1 h = new class1();
class1 h2 = new class1();
System.out.println(class1.value);
}
}
The output is:
2
But in this code:
public class class1 {
public static Integer value=0;
public void class1() {
da();
}
public int da() {
class1.value=class1.value+1;
return 5;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
class1 h = new class1();
class1 h2 = new class1();
System.out.println(class1.value);
}
}
The output of this code is:
0
So why doesn't, when I use void in the constructor method declaration, the static field of the class doesn't change any more?
In Java, the constructor is not a method. It only has the name of the class and a specific visibility. If it declares that returns something, then it is not a constructor, not even if it declares that returns a void. Note the difference here:
public class SomeClass {
public SomeClass() {
//constructor
}
public void SomeClass() {
//a method, NOT a constructor
}
}
Also, if a class doesn't define a constructor, then the compiler will automatically add a default constructor for you.
public void class1() is not a constructor, it is a void method whose name happens to match the class name. It is never called. Instead java creates a default constructor (since you have not created one), which does nothing.
Using void in the constructor by definition leads it to not longer be the constructor.
The constructor specifically has no return type. While void doesn't return a value in the strictest sense of the word, it is still considered a return type.
In the second example (where you use the void), you would have to do h.class1() for the method to get called because it is no longer the constructor. Or you could just remove the void.
This is arguably a design flaw in Java.
class MyClass {
// this is a constructor
MyClass() {...}
// this is an instance method
void MyClass() {...}
}
Perfectly legal. Probably shouldn't be, but is.
In your example, class1() is never getting called, because it's not a constructor. Instead, the default constructor is getting called.
Suggestion: familiarize yourself with Java naming conventions. Class names should start with uppercase.
The reason the constructor doesn't return a value is because it's not called directly by your code, it's called by the memory allocation and object initialization code in the run time.
Here is an article explaining this in greater detail:
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-return-type-of-constructor-not-void-while-the-return-type-of-a-function-can-be-void
Is it possible to call a constructor from another (within the same class, not from a subclass)? If yes how? And what could be the best way to call another constructor (if there are several ways to do it)?
Yes, it is possible:
public class Foo {
private int x;
public Foo() {
this(1);
}
public Foo(int x) {
this.x = x;
}
}
To chain to a particular superclass constructor instead of one in the same class, use super instead of this. Note that you can only chain to one constructor, and it has to be the first statement in your constructor body.
See also this related question, which is about C# but where the same principles apply.
Using this(args). The preferred pattern is to work from the smallest constructor to the largest.
public class Cons {
public Cons() {
// A no arguments constructor that sends default values to the largest
this(madeUpArg1Value,madeUpArg2Value,madeUpArg3Value);
}
public Cons(int arg1, int arg2) {
// An example of a partial constructor that uses the passed in arguments
// and sends a hidden default value to the largest
this(arg1,arg2, madeUpArg3Value);
}
// Largest constructor that does the work
public Cons(int arg1, int arg2, int arg3) {
this.arg1 = arg1;
this.arg2 = arg2;
this.arg3 = arg3;
}
}
You can also use a more recently advocated approach of valueOf or just "of":
public class Cons {
public static Cons newCons(int arg1,...) {
// This function is commonly called valueOf, like Integer.valueOf(..)
// More recently called "of", like EnumSet.of(..)
Cons c = new Cons(...);
c.setArg1(....);
return c;
}
}
To call a super class, use super(someValue). The call to super must be the first call in the constructor or you will get a compiler error.
[Note: I just want to add one aspect, which I did not see in the other answers: how to overcome limitations of the requirement that this() has to be on the first line).]
In Java another constructor of the same class can be called from a constructor via this(). Note however that this has to be on the first line.
public class MyClass {
public MyClass(double argument1, double argument2) {
this(argument1, argument2, 0.0);
}
public MyClass(double argument1, double argument2, double argument3) {
this.argument1 = argument1;
this.argument2 = argument2;
this.argument3 = argument3;
}
}
That this has to appear on the first line looks like a big limitation, but you can construct the arguments of other constructors via static methods. For example:
public class MyClass {
public MyClass(double argument1, double argument2) {
this(argument1, argument2, getDefaultArg3(argument1, argument2));
}
public MyClass(double argument1, double argument2, double argument3) {
this.argument1 = argument1;
this.argument2 = argument2;
this.argument3 = argument3;
}
private static double getDefaultArg3(double argument1, double argument2) {
double argument3 = 0;
// Calculate argument3 here if you like.
return argument3;
}
}
When I need to call another constructor from inside the code (not on the first line), I usually use a helper method like this:
class MyClass {
int field;
MyClass() {
init(0);
}
MyClass(int value) {
if (value<0) {
init(0);
}
else {
init(value);
}
}
void init(int x) {
field = x;
}
}
But most often I try to do it the other way around by calling the more complex constructors from the simpler ones on the first line, to the extent possible. For the above example
class MyClass {
int field;
MyClass(int value) {
if (value<0)
field = 0;
else
field = value;
}
MyClass() {
this(0);
}
}
Within a constructor, you can use the this keyword to invoke another constructor in the same class. Doing so is called an explicit constructor invocation.
Here's another Rectangle class, with a different implementation from the one in the Objects section.
public class Rectangle {
private int x, y;
private int width, height;
public Rectangle() {
this(1, 1);
}
public Rectangle(int width, int height) {
this( 0,0,width, height);
}
public Rectangle(int x, int y, int width, int height) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
this.width = width;
this.height = height;
}
}
This class contains a set of constructors. Each constructor initializes some or all of the rectangle's member variables.
As everybody already have said, you use this(…), which is called an explicit constructor invocation.
However, keep in mind that within such an explicit constructor invocation statement you may not refer to
any instance variables or
any instance methods or
any inner classes declared in this class or any superclass, or
this or
super.
As stated in JLS (§8.8.7.1).
Yes, any number of constructors can be present in a class and they can be called by another constructor using this() [Please do not confuse this() constructor call with this keyword]. this() or this(args) should be the first line in the constructor.
Example:
Class Test {
Test() {
this(10); // calls the constructor with integer args, Test(int a)
}
Test(int a) {
this(10.5); // call the constructor with double arg, Test(double a)
}
Test(double a) {
System.out.println("I am a double arg constructor");
}
}
This is known as constructor overloading.
Please note that for constructor, only overloading concept is applicable and not inheritance or overriding.
Using this keyword we can call one constructor in another constructor within same class.
Example :-
public class Example {
private String name;
public Example() {
this("Mahesh");
}
public Example(String name) {
this.name = name;
}
}
Yes it is possible to call one constructor from another. But there is a rule to it. If a call is made from one constructor to another, then
that new constructor call must be the first statement in the current constructor
public class Product {
private int productId;
private String productName;
private double productPrice;
private String category;
public Product(int id, String name) {
this(id,name,1.0);
}
public Product(int id, String name, double price) {
this(id,name,price,"DEFAULT");
}
public Product(int id,String name,double price, String category){
this.productId=id;
this.productName=name;
this.productPrice=price;
this.category=category;
}
}
So, something like below will not work.
public Product(int id, String name, double price) {
System.out.println("Calling constructor with price");
this(id,name,price,"DEFAULT");
}
Also, in the case of inheritance, when sub-class's object is created, the super class constructor is first called.
public class SuperClass {
public SuperClass() {
System.out.println("Inside super class constructor");
}
}
public class SubClass extends SuperClass {
public SubClass () {
//Even if we do not add, Java adds the call to super class's constructor like
// super();
System.out.println("Inside sub class constructor");
}
}
Thus, in this case also another constructor call is first declared before any other statements.
I will tell you an easy way
There are two types of constructors:
Default constructor
Parameterized constructor
I will explain in one Example
class ConstructorDemo
{
ConstructorDemo()//Default Constructor
{
System.out.println("D.constructor ");
}
ConstructorDemo(int k)//Parameterized constructor
{
this();//-------------(1)
System.out.println("P.Constructor ="+k);
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
//this(); error because "must be first statement in constructor
new ConstructorDemo();//-------(2)
ConstructorDemo g=new ConstructorDemo(3);---(3)
}
}
In the above example I showed 3 types of calling
this() call to this must be first statement in constructor
This is Name less Object. this automatically calls the default constructor.
3.This calls the Parameterized constructor.
Note:
this must be the first statement in the constructor.
You can a constructor from another constructor of same class by using "this" keyword.
Example -
class This1
{
This1()
{
this("Hello");
System.out.println("Default constructor..");
}
This1(int a)
{
this();
System.out.println("int as arg constructor..");
}
This1(String s)
{
System.out.println("string as arg constructor..");
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
new This1(100);
}
}
Output -
string as arg constructor..
Default constructor..
int as arg constructor..
Calling constructor from another constructor
class MyConstructorDemo extends ConstructorDemo
{
MyConstructorDemo()
{
this("calling another constructor");
}
MyConstructorDemo(String arg)
{
System.out.print("This is passed String by another constructor :"+arg);
}
}
Also you can call parent constructor by using super() call
There are design patterns that cover the need for complex construction - if it can't be done succinctly, create a factory method or a factory class.
With the latest java and the addition of lambdas, it is easy to create a constructor which can accept any initialization code you desire.
class LambdaInitedClass {
public LamdaInitedClass(Consumer<LambdaInitedClass> init) {
init.accept(this);
}
}
Call it with...
new LambdaInitedClass(l -> { // init l any way you want });
Pretty simple
public class SomeClass{
private int number;
private String someString;
public SomeClass(){
number = 0;
someString = new String();
}
public SomeClass(int number){
this(); //set the class to 0
this.setNumber(number);
}
public SomeClass(int number, String someString){
this(number); //call public SomeClass( int number )
this.setString(someString);
}
public void setNumber(int number){
this.number = number;
}
public void setString(String someString){
this.someString = someString;
}
//.... add some accessors
}
now here is some small extra credit:
public SomeOtherClass extends SomeClass {
public SomeOtherClass(int number, String someString){
super(number, someString); //calls public SomeClass(int number, String someString)
}
//.... Some other code.
}
Hope this helps.
Yes it is possible to call one constructor from another with use of this()
class Example{
private int a = 1;
Example(){
this(5); //here another constructor called based on constructor argument
System.out.println("number a is "+a);
}
Example(int b){
System.out.println("number b is "+b);
}
You can call another constructor via the this(...) keyword (when you need to call a constructor from the same class) or the super(...) keyword
(when you need to call a constructor from a superclass).
However, such a call must be the first statement of your constructor. To overcome this limitation, use this answer.
The keyword this can be used to call a constructor from a constructor, when writing several constructor for a class, there are times when you'd like to call one constructor from another to avoid duplicate code.
Bellow is a link that I explain other topic about constructor and getters() and setters() and I used a class with two constructors. I hope the explanations and examples help you.
Setter methods or constructors
I know there are so many examples of this question but what I found I am putting here to share my Idea. there are two ways to chain constructor. In Same class you can use this keyword. in Inheritance, you need to use super keyword.
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.*;
class Test
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Dog d = new Dog(); // Both Calling Same Constructor of Parent Class i.e. 0 args Constructor.
Dog cs = new Dog("Bite"); // Both Calling Same Constructor of Parent Class i.e. 0 args Constructor.
// You need to Explicitly tell the java compiler to use Argument constructor so you need to use "super" key word
System.out.println("------------------------------");
Cat c = new Cat();
Cat caty = new Cat("10");
System.out.println("------------------------------");
// Self s = new Self();
Self ss = new Self("self");
}
}
class Animal
{
String i;
public Animal()
{
i = "10";
System.out.println("Animal Constructor :" +i);
}
public Animal(String h)
{
i = "20";
System.out.println("Animal Constructor Habit :"+ i);
}
}
class Dog extends Animal
{
public Dog()
{
System.out.println("Dog Constructor");
}
public Dog(String h)
{
System.out.println("Dog Constructor with habit");
}
}
class Cat extends Animal
{
public Cat()
{
System.out.println("Cat Constructor");
}
public Cat(String i)
{
super(i); // Calling Super Class Paremetrize Constructor.
System.out.println("Cat Constructor with habit");
}
}
class Self
{
public Self()
{
System.out.println("Self Constructor");
}
public Self(String h)
{
this(); // Explicitly calling 0 args constructor.
System.out.println("Slef Constructor with value");
}
}
It is called Telescoping Constructor anti-pattern or constructor chaining. Yes, you can definitely do. I see many examples above and I want to add by saying that if you know that you need only two or three constructor, it might be ok. But if you need more, please try to use different design pattern like Builder pattern. As for example:
public Omar(){};
public Omar(a){};
public Omar(a,b){};
public Omar(a,b,c){};
public Omar(a,b,c,d){};
...
You may need more. Builder pattern would be a great solution in this case. Here is an article, it might be helpful
https://medium.com/#modestofiguereo/design-patterns-2-the-builder-pattern-and-the-telescoping-constructor-anti-pattern-60a33de7522e
Yes, you can call constructors from another constructor. For example:
public class Animal {
private int animalType;
public Animal() {
this(1); //here this(1) internally make call to Animal(1);
}
public Animal(int animalType) {
this.animalType = animalType;
}
}
you can also read in details from
Constructor Chaining in Java
Originally from an anser by Mirko Klemm, slightly modified to address the question:
Just for completeness: There is also the Instance initialization block that gets executed always and before any other constructor is called. It consists simply of a block of statements "{ ... }" somewhere in the body of your class definition. You can even have more than one. You can't call them, but they're like "shared constructor" code if you want to reuse some code across constructors, similar to calling methods.
So in your case
{
System.out.println("this is shared constructor code executed before the constructor");
field1 = 3;
}
There is also a "static" version of this to initialize static members: "static { ... }"
I prefer this way:
class User {
private long id;
private String username;
private int imageRes;
public User() {
init(defaultID,defaultUsername,defaultRes);
}
public User(String username) {
init(defaultID,username, defaultRes());
}
public User(String username, int imageRes) {
init(defaultID,username, imageRes);
}
public User(long id, String username, int imageRes) {
init(id,username, imageRes);
}
private void init(long id, String username, int imageRes) {
this.id=id;
this.username = username;
this.imageRes = imageRes;
}
}
class Test{
public Test(){
System.out.println("I am here");
return;// not getting error
}
public static void main(String[] args){
Test test = new Test();
}
}
I am java beginner. My tutor told me that constructor returns an object and showed me the above example. is it really happening because method is not returning any value but the return;is not getting an error.
No, a constructor initialises an object that's already been created. It doesn't return an object. Your tutor is wrong.
You don't need to write return; inside a constructor, unless you're returning before the end of the code.
this line of code
return;
dose not mean return value but it just end the execution of contractor and since it's in the last line so it's not necessarily
situation where you use return in constructor
class Test
{
private int a;
public Test(int a)
{
System.out.println("I am here");
if(a>10)
{
System.out.println("I'm Executed but not the rest of code");
return;
}
System.out.println("I'm the last line of constructor");
}
...
}
return in constructor its just like return in void method
No. The role of constructor is to initialize the state of the object.
new keyword is responsible to create an object in the heap. In below example, using new keyword you are creating an object and then you are pointing that object with type Test variable name test.
Test test = new Test();
No, that is not true at all
A constructor in Java is a block of code similar to a method that’s called when an instance of an object is created. Here are the key differences between a constructor and a method:
A constructor doesn’t have a return type.
The name of the constructor must be the same as the name of the class.
Unlike methods, constructors are not considered members of a class.
A constructor is called automatically when a new instance of an
object is created.
Example:
class Bike1{
Bike1(){
System.out.println("Bike is created");
}
public static void main(String args[]){
Bike1 b=new Bike1();
}
}
Constructor in java is a special type of method that is used to initialize the object.
Java constructor is invoked at the time of object creation. It constructs the values i.e. provides data for the object that is why it is known as the constructor.
But it doesn't have a return type, I'm afraid your tutor is wrong about this, please rediscuss it with him.
class Car{
Car()
{
System.out.println("Car is created");
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
Car c=new Car();
}
}
I encountered a code where this() method in java takes three parameters two being integers and the third one is boolean value.
what exactly does that mean ? Are there any other variants of this() method ?
Hera is the actual code.
public SegmentConstructor(int seqNum_, int length_) {
this(seqNum_, length_, false);
}
Thank You..
It means that there is another constructor in the current class that has that signature.
public SegmentConstructor(int seqNum_, int length_) {
this(seqNum_, length_, false); // calls the constructor below.
}
public SegmentConstructor(int seqNum_, int length_, boolean required_) {
seqNum = seqNum_;
length = length_;
required = required_;
}
The this method is just a way to call one of your class's constructors from within another constructor, to help avoid code duplication. It can only be called on the first line of a constructor--never from within any other method.
this simply invokes another constructor to run. So, look for other constructors with that signature.
As said before this invokes another constructor, mostly as a convenience method.
Trivial example:
class A {
private int value;
public A(int val) {
value = val;
}
public A() {
this(0); //0 as default
}
}
Normally you do use calls to this() when the most specific constructor (that one with the most parameters) is not just assignment but contains more logic that you don't want to repeat/copy etc.
Just because it fits in here: super() can have parameters, too, i.e. this calls a super class' constructor with parameters from the sub class' constructor.
It is a constructor call. If your class implements different constructors with a differing number of arguments, you can chain your constructors like this:
class A {
public A(boolean arg) {
...
}
public A() {
this(false); // invokes the constructor with the boolean argument
}
}
Sometimes it makes sense to create a private constructor taking different arguments and provide public and/or protected constructors with other/fewer arguments and delegate object construction to that private constructor.
It is important to know that no other code may be placed before the call to this(...). However, after calling this(...), you can do everything you could in any other constructor.
Edit: Since this(...) calls a constructor, it can only be called from within other constructors (belonging to the same class).
class MyClass
{
private int var1;
private int var2;
private boolean flag;
public MyClass(int var1_,int var2_)
{
this(var1_,var2_,false);
}
public MyClass(int var1_,int var2_,boolean flag_)
{
var1 = var1_;
var2 = var2_;
flag = flag_;
}
public String toString()
{
return (new Boolean(flag).toString());
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
MyClass my = new MyClass(5,6);
System.out.println(my);
}
}
So it works.
this() is not a method but is a reserved keyword pointing to a overloaded constructor of the same class.
The number of parameters you pass should point to an existing corresponding constructor defined in the class.
The super() also has the semantics however the constructor is defined in one of its parent hierarchy.