Package nl.colorize.util

Class ReflectionUtils

java.lang.Object

nl.colorize.util.ReflectionUtils

public final class ReflectionUtils
extends Object

Various utility and convenience methods for working with reflection. Unless stated otherwise, all methods in this class will throw unchecked exceptions if an error occurs while attempting to locate, access, or call elements. This prevents using code from having to deal with the several types of checked exceptions thrown by the reflection APIs. Also, in some cases methods may throw SecurityException if the environment in which the application is used does not allow certain forms of reflection.

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method	Description
static Object	callMethod(Object subject, String methodName, Object... args)	Calls the object's method with the specified name using reflection.
static List<Field>	getFieldsWithAnnotation(Object subject, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationClass)	Returns a list containing all of an object's fields that are marked with the specified annotation.
static List<Method>	getMethodsWithAnnotation(Object subject, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationClass)	Returns a list containing all of an object's methods that are marked with the specified annotation.
static Map<String,Object>	getProperties(Object subject)	Accesses an object's properties using reflection.
static Object	getProperty(Object subject, String propertyName)	Accesses the object's property with the specified name using reflection, and returns its value.
static <T> Comparator<T>	getPropertyComparator(String propertyName)	Returns a comparator that compares objects based on the value of one of their properties.
static Set<String>	getPropertyNames(Class<?> forClass)	Returns the names of the properties defined by the specified class.
static Map<String,Class<?>>	getPropertyTypes(Class<?> forClass)	Returns the names and types of the properties defined by the specified class.
static void	setProperty(Object subject, String propertyName, Object value)	Accesses the object's property with the specified name using reflection, and updates its value.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Method Details

getProperty

public static Object getProperty(Object subject,
 String propertyName)

Accesses the object's property with the specified name using reflection, and returns its value.

Throws:

IllegalArgumentException - if the object does not have a property with that name.

SecurityException - if the property is private or protected, and the environment does not allow access to non-public properties.

getPropertyNames

public static Set<String> getPropertyNames(Class<?> forClass)

Returns the names of the properties defined by the specified class. This does include private and protected properties, but does not include any properties defined by parent classes, or static or transient properties.

getPropertyTypes

public static Map<String,Class<?>> getPropertyTypes(Class<?> forClass)

Returns the names and types of the properties defined by the specified class. This does include private and protected properties, but does not include any properties defined by parent classes, or static or transient properties.

This method does not retrieve the actual property values for an instance of the class. Use getProperties(Object) for that purpose.

getProperties

public static Map<String,Object> getProperties(Object subject)

Accesses an object's properties using reflection. The properties are obtained using the approach described in getProperty(Object, String). This does include private and protected properties, but does not include any properties defined by parent classes, or static or transient properties.

setProperty

public static void setProperty(Object subject,
 String propertyName,
 Object value)

Accesses the object's property with the specified name using reflection, and updates its value.

Throws:

IllegalArgumentException - if the object does not have a property with that name, or if the property's type and type of value don't match.

SecurityException - if the property is private or protected, and the environment does not allow access to non-public properties.

getPropertyComparator

public static <T> Comparator<T> getPropertyComparator(String propertyName)

Returns a comparator that compares objects based on the value of one of their properties. Property access follows the approach used by getProperty(Object, String), including the exceptions that might be thrown when trying to access the property.

callMethod

public static Object callMethod(Object subject,
 String methodName,
 Object... args)

Calls the object's method with the specified name using reflection. The types of the arguments passed to the method (args) are also used to find the method with the requested parameter types.

Throws:

RuntimeException - if the calling the method results in an exception.

IllegalArgumentException - if no method with that name exists, or if the number of parameter or the parameter type don't match.

getMethodsWithAnnotation

public static List<Method> getMethodsWithAnnotation(Object subject,
 Class<? extends Annotation> annotationClass)

Returns a list containing all of an object's methods that are marked with the specified annotation.

getFieldsWithAnnotation

public static List<Field> getFieldsWithAnnotation(Object subject,
 Class<? extends Annotation> annotationClass)

Returns a list containing all of an object's fields that are marked with the specified annotation.