Java The Complete Reference, Seventh Edition

416 Part II: The Java Library

Method Description

Annotation[ ] getAnnotations( ) Obtains all annotations associated with the invoking

object and stores them in an array ofAnnotation

objects. Returns a reference to this array.

Class<?>[ ] getClasses( ) Returns aClassobject for each of the public classes

and inter faces that are members of the invoking

object.

ClassLoader getClassLoader( ) Returns theClassLoaderobject that loaded the class

or inter face used to instantiate the invoking object.

Constructor<T>

getConstructor(Class<?> ...paramTypes)

throws NoSuchMethodException,

SecurityException

Returns aConstructorobject that represents the

constructor for the invoking object that has the

parameter types specified byparamTypes.

Constructor<?>[ ] getConstructors( )

throws SecurityException

Obtains aConstructorobject for each public

constructor of the invoking object and stores them

in an array. Returns a reference to this array.

Annotation[ ] getDeclaredAnnotations( ) Obtains anAnnotationobject for all the annotations

that are declared by the invoking object and stores

them in an array. Returns a reference to this array.

(Inherited annotations are ignored.)

Constructor<?>[ ] getDeclaredConstructors( )

throws SecurityException

Obtains aConstructorobject for each constructor

declared by the invoking object and stores them in

an array. Returns a reference to this array.

(Superclass constructors are ignored.)

Field[ ] getDeclaredFields( )

throws SecurityException

Obtains aFieldobject for each field declared by

this class and stores them in an array. Returns a

reference to this array. (Inherited fields are ignored.)

Method[ ] getDeclaredMethods( )

throws SecurityException

Obtains aMethodobject for each method declared

by this class or inter face and stores them in an

array. Returns a reference to this array. (Inherited

methods are ignored.)

Field getField(StringfieldName)

throws NoSuchMethodException,

SecurityException

Returns aFieldobject that represents the field

specified byfieldNamefor the invoking object.

Field[ ] getFields( )

throws SecurityException

Obtains aFieldobject for each public field of the

invoking object and stores them in an array. Returns

a reference to this array.

Class<?>[ ] getInter faces( ) When invoked on an object, this method returns

an array of the inter faces implemented by the class

type of the object. When invoked on an inter face,

this method returns an array of inter faces extended

by the inter face.

TABLE 16-15 A Sampling of Methods Defined byClass(continued)