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Java Generics FAQs - Generic Methods

This is a collection of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Java Generics, a new language feature added to the Java programming language in version 5.0 of the Java Standard Edition (J2SE 5.0).

If you want to provide feedback or have any questions regarding Java generics, to which you cannot find an answer in this document, feel free to send me EMAIL or use the GENERICS FAQ form.
A printable version of the FAQ documents is available in PDF format (4.5MB).

Java Generics FAQs - Generic Methods

Generic Methods

Fundamentals

Generic Methods

What is a generic method?

*A method with type parameters.*
Not only types can be generic, but methods can be generic, too. Static and non-static methods as well as constructors can have type parameters. The syntax for declaration of the formal type parameters is similar to the syntax for generic types. The type parameter section is delimited by angle brackets and appears before the method's return type. Its syntax and meaning is identical to the type parameter list of a generic type. Here is the example of a generic `max` method that computes the greatest value in a collection of elements of an unknown type `A` . Example (of a generic method): `class Collections {` `public static <A extends Comparable<A>> A max(Collection< A > xs) {` `Iterator< A > xi = xs.iterator();` `A w = xi.next();` `while (xi.hasNext()) {` `A x = xi.next();` `if (w.compareTo(x) < 0) w = x;` `}` `return w;` `}` `}` The `max` method has one type parameter, named `A` . It is a place holder for the element type of the collection that the method works on. The type parameter has a bound; it must be a type `A` that is a subtype of `Comparable<A>` , i.e., a type that can be compared to elements of itself.
LINK TO THIS	GenericMethods.FAQ001
REFERENCES	What is a generic type? How do I define a generic type? What is a type parameter? What is a bounded type parameter?

How do I invoke a generic method?

*Usually by calling it. Type arguments for generic methods need not be provided explicitly; they are almost always automatically inferred.*
Generic methods are invoked like regular non-generic methods. The type parameters are inferred from the invocation context. Example (of invocation of a generic method; taken from the preceding item): `class Collections {` `public static <A extends Comparable<A>> A max (Collection<A> xs) {` `Iterator<A> xi = xs.iterator();` `A w = xi. next();` `while (xi.hasNext()) {` `A x = xi.next();` `if (w.compareTo(x) < 0) w = x;` `}` `return w;` `}` `}` `final class Test {` `public static void main (String[ ] args) {` `LinkedList<Long> list = new LinkedList<Long>();` `list.add(0L);` `list.add(1L);` `Long y = Collections.max(list) ;` `}` `}` In our example, the compiler would automatically invoke an instantiation of the `max` method with the type argument `Long` , that is, the formal type parameter `A` is replaced by type `Long` . Note that we do not have to explicitly specify the type argument. The compiler automatically infers the type argument by taking a look at the type of the arguments provided to the method invocation. The compiler finds that a `Collection<A>` is asked for and that a `LinkedList<Long>` is provided. From this information the compiler concludes at compile time that `A` must be replaced by `Long` .
LINK TO THIS	GenericMethods.FAQ002
REFERENCES	What is type argument inference? What explicit type argument specification? What happens if a type parameter does not appear in the method parameter list? Why doesn't type argument inference fail when I provide inconsistent method arguments?

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