org.apache.commons.lang3.reflect.MethodUtils

public class MethodUtils extends Object

Utility reflection methods focused on Methods, originally from Commons BeanUtils. Differences from the BeanUtils version may be noted, especially where similar functionality already existed within Lang.

Known Limitations

Accessing Public Methods In A Default Access Superclass

There is an issue when invoking public methods contained in a default access superclass on JREs prior to 1.4. Reflection locates these methods fine and correctly assigns them as public. However, an IllegalAccessException is thrown if the method is invoked.

MethodUtils contains a workaround for this situation. It will attempt to call AccessibleObject.setAccessible(boolean) on this method. If this call succeeds, then the method can be invoked as normal. This call will only succeed when the application has sufficient security privileges. If this call fails then the method may fail.

Since:: 2.5

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Constructor

Description

MethodUtils()

Deprecated.
TODO Make private in 4.0.
Method Summary

Modifier and Type

Method

Description

static Method

getAccessibleMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)

Gets an accessible method (that is, one that can be invoked via reflection) with given name and parameters.

static Method

getAccessibleMethod(Method method)

Gets an accessible method (that is, one that can be invoked via reflection) that implements the specified Method.

static <A extends Annotation> A

getAnnotation(Method method, Class<A> annotationCls, boolean searchSupers, boolean ignoreAccess)

Gets the annotation object with the given annotation type that is present on the given method or optionally on any equivalent method in super classes and interfaces.

static Method

getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)

Gets an accessible method that matches the given name and has compatible parameters.

static Method

getMatchingMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)

Gets a method whether or not it's accessible.

static Method

getMethodObject(Class<?> cls, String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes)

Gets a Method or null if a documented exception is thrown.

static List<Method>

getMethodsListWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls)

Gets all class level public methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.

static List<Method>

getMethodsListWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls, boolean searchSupers, boolean ignoreAccess)

Gets all methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.

static Method[]

getMethodsWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls)

Gets all class level public methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.

static Method[]

getMethodsWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls, boolean searchSupers, boolean ignoreAccess)

Gets all methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.

static Set<Method>

getOverrideHierarchy(Method method, ClassUtils.Interfaces interfacesBehavior)

Gets the hierarchy of overridden methods down to result respecting generics.

static Object

invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName)

Invokes a method whose parameter types match exactly the object types.

static Object

invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object... args)

Invokes a method with no parameters.

static Object

invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes)

Invokes a method whose parameter types match exactly the parameter types given.

static Object

invokeExactStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object... args)

Invokes a static method whose parameter types match exactly the object types.

static Object

invokeExactStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes)

Invokes a static method whose parameter types match exactly the parameter types given.

static Object

invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName)

Invokes a named method without parameters.

static Object

invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName, Object... args)

Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.

static Object

invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes)

Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.

static Object

invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName)

Invokes a named method without parameters.

static Object

invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object... args)

Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.

static Object

invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes)

Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.

static Object

invokeStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object... args)

Invokes a named static method whose parameter type matches the object type.

static Object

invokeStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes)

Invokes a named static method whose parameter type matches the object type.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Details
- MethodUtils
  
  @Deprecated public MethodUtils()
  
  Deprecated.
  TODO Make private in 4.0.
  
  MethodUtils instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming. Instead, the class should be used as MethodUtils.getAccessibleMethod(method).
  This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance to operate.
Method Details
- getAccessibleMethod
  
  public static Method getAccessibleMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)
  
  Gets an accessible method (that is, one that can be invoked via reflection) with given name and parameters. If no such method can be found, return null. This is just a convenience wrapper for getAccessibleMethod(Method).
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - get method from this class
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  parameterTypes - with these parameters types
  
  Returns:
  
  The accessible method
- getAccessibleMethod
  
  public static Method getAccessibleMethod(Method method)
  
  Gets an accessible method (that is, one that can be invoked via reflection) that implements the specified Method. If no such method can be found, return null.
  
  Parameters:
  
  method - The method that we wish to call, may be null.
  
  Returns:
  
  The accessible method
- getAnnotation
  
  public static <A extends Annotation> A getAnnotation(Method method, Class<A> annotationCls, boolean searchSupers, boolean ignoreAccess)
  
  Gets the annotation object with the given annotation type that is present on the given method or optionally on any equivalent method in super classes and interfaces. Returns null if the annotation type was not present.
  Stops searching for an annotation once the first annotation of the specified type has been found. Additional annotations of the specified type will be silently ignored.
  
  Type Parameters:
  
  A - the annotation type
  
  Parameters:
  
  method - the Method to query, may be null.
  
  annotationCls - the Annotation to check if is present on the method
  
  searchSupers - determines if a lookup in the entire inheritance hierarchy of the given class is performed if the annotation was not directly present
  
  ignoreAccess - determines if underlying method has to be accessible
  
  Returns:
  
  the first matching annotation, or null if not found
  
  Throws:
  
  NullPointerException - if either the method or annotation class is null
  
  Since:
  
  3.6
- getMatchingAccessibleMethod
  
  public static Method getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)
  
  Gets an accessible method that matches the given name and has compatible parameters. Compatible parameters mean that every method parameter is assignable from the given parameters. In other words, it finds a method with the given name that will take the parameters given.
  This method is used by invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class[] parameterTypes).
  
  This method can match primitive parameter by passing in wrapper classes. For example, a Boolean will match a primitive boolean parameter.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - find method in this class
  
  methodName - find method with this name
  
  parameterTypes - find method with most compatible parameters
  
  Returns:
  
  The accessible method
- getMatchingMethod
  
  public static Method getMatchingMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)
  
  Gets a method whether or not it's accessible. If no such method can be found, return null.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - The class that will be subjected to the method search
  
  methodName - The method that we wish to call
  
  parameterTypes - Argument class types
  
  Returns:
  
  The method
  
  Throws:
  
  IllegalStateException - if there is no unique result
  
  NullPointerException - if the class is null
  
  Since:
  
  3.5
- getMethodObject
  
  public static Method getMethodObject(Class<?> cls, String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes)
  
  Gets a Method or null if a documented exception is thrown.
  Parameters:
  
  cls - Receiver for Class.getMethod(String, Class...).
  
  name - the name of the method
  
  parameterTypes - the list of parameters
  
  Returns:
  
  a Method or null.
  
  Since:
  
  3.15.0
  
  See Also:
  
  Class.getMethod(String, Class...)
- getMethodsListWithAnnotation
  
  public static List<Method> getMethodsListWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls)
  
  Gets all class level public methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - the Class to query
  
  annotationCls - the Annotation that must be present on a method to be matched
  
  Returns:
  
  a list of Methods (possibly empty).
  
  Throws:
  
  NullPointerException - if the class or annotation are null
  
  Since:
  
  3.4
- getMethodsListWithAnnotation
  
  public static List<Method> getMethodsListWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls, boolean searchSupers, boolean ignoreAccess)
  
  Gets all methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - the Class to query
  
  annotationCls - the Annotation that must be present on a method to be matched
  
  searchSupers - determines if a lookup in the entire inheritance hierarchy of the given class should be performed
  
  ignoreAccess - determines if non-public methods should be considered
  
  Returns:
  
  a list of Methods (possibly empty).
  
  Throws:
  
  NullPointerException - if either the class or annotation class is null
  
  Since:
  
  3.6
- getMethodsWithAnnotation
  
  public static Method[] getMethodsWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls)
  
  Gets all class level public methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - the Class to query
  
  annotationCls - the Annotation that must be present on a method to be matched
  
  Returns:
  
  an array of Methods (possibly empty).
  
  Throws:
  
  NullPointerException - if the class or annotation are null
  
  Since:
  
  3.4
- getMethodsWithAnnotation
  
  public static Method[] getMethodsWithAnnotation(Class<?> cls, Class<? extends Annotation> annotationCls, boolean searchSupers, boolean ignoreAccess)
  
  Gets all methods of the given class that are annotated with the given annotation.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - the Class to query
  
  annotationCls - the Annotation that must be present on a method to be matched
  
  searchSupers - determines if a lookup in the entire inheritance hierarchy of the given class should be performed
  
  ignoreAccess - determines if non-public methods should be considered
  
  Returns:
  
  an array of Methods (possibly empty).
  
  Throws:
  
  NullPointerException - if the class or annotation are null
  
  Since:
  
  3.6
- getOverrideHierarchy
  
  public static Set<Method> getOverrideHierarchy(Method method, ClassUtils.Interfaces interfacesBehavior)
  
  Gets the hierarchy of overridden methods down to result respecting generics.
  
  Parameters:
  
  method - lowest to consider
  
  interfacesBehavior - whether to search interfaces, null implies false
  
  Returns:
  
  Set<Method> in ascending order from sub- to superclass
  
  Throws:
  
  NullPointerException - if the specified method is null
  
  Since:
  
  3.2
- invokeExactMethod
  
  public static Object invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a method whose parameter types match exactly the object types.
  This uses reflection to invoke the method obtained from a call to getAccessibleMethod(java.lang.Class<?>, java.lang.String, java.lang.Class<?>...)(Class, String, Class[])}.
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  Since:
  
  3.4
- invokeExactMethod
  
  public static Object invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object... args) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a method with no parameters.
  This uses reflection to invoke the method obtained from a call to getAccessibleMethod(java.lang.Class<?>, java.lang.String, java.lang.Class<?>...)(Class, String, Class[])}.
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  NullPointerException - if the object or method name are null
- invokeExactMethod
  
  public static Object invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a method whose parameter types match exactly the parameter types given.
  This uses reflection to invoke the method obtained from a call to getAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  parameterTypes - match these parameters - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  NullPointerException - if the object or method name are null
- invokeExactStaticMethod
  
  public static Object invokeExactStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object... args) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a static method whose parameter types match exactly the object types.
  This uses reflection to invoke the method obtained from a call to getAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - invoke static method on this class
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
- invokeExactStaticMethod
  
  public static Object invokeExactStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a static method whose parameter types match exactly the parameter types given.
  This uses reflection to invoke the method obtained from a call to getAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - invoke static method on this class
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  parameterTypes - match these parameters - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
- invokeMethod
  
  public static Object invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named method without parameters.
  This is a convenient wrapper for invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName, Object[] args, Class[] parameterTypes).
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  forceAccess - force access to invoke method even if it's not accessible
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  Since:
  
  3.5
- invokeMethod
  
  public static Object invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName, Object... args) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.
  This method supports calls to methods taking primitive parameters via passing in wrapping classes. So, for example, a Boolean object would match a boolean primitive.
  
  This is a convenient wrapper for invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName, Object[] args, Class[] parameterTypes).
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  forceAccess - force access to invoke method even if it's not accessible
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  NullPointerException - if the object or method name are null
  
  Since:
  
  3.5
- invokeMethod
  
  public static Object invokeMethod(Object object, boolean forceAccess, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.
  This method supports calls to methods taking primitive parameters via passing in wrapping classes. So, for example, a Boolean object would match a boolean primitive.
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  forceAccess - force access to invoke method even if it's not accessible
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  parameterTypes - match these parameters - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  NullPointerException - if the object or method name are null
  
  Since:
  
  3.5
- invokeMethod
  
  public static Object invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named method without parameters.
  This method delegates the method search to getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  This is a convenient wrapper for invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class[] parameterTypes).
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  Since:
  
  3.4
- invokeMethod
  
  public static Object invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object... args) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.
  This method delegates the method search to getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  This method supports calls to methods taking primitive parameters via passing in wrapping classes. So, for example, a Boolean object would match a boolean primitive.
  
  This is a convenient wrapper for invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class[] parameterTypes).
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
  
  NullPointerException - if the object or method name are null
- invokeMethod
  
  public static Object invokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named method whose parameter type matches the object type.
  This method delegates the method search to getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  This method supports calls to methods taking primitive parameters via passing in wrapping classes. So, for example, a Boolean object would match a boolean primitive.
  
  Parameters:
  
  object - invoke method on this object
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  parameterTypes - match these parameters - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
- invokeStaticMethod
  
  public static Object invokeStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object... args) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named static method whose parameter type matches the object type.
  This method delegates the method search to getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  This method supports calls to methods taking primitive parameters via passing in wrapping classes. So, for example, a Boolean class would match a boolean primitive.
  
  This is a convenient wrapper for invokeStaticMethod(Class, String, Object[], Class[]).
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - invoke static method on this class
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection
- invokeStaticMethod
  
  public static Object invokeStaticMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Object[] args, Class<?>[] parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException, IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException
  
  Invokes a named static method whose parameter type matches the object type.
  This method delegates the method search to getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class, String, Class[]).
  
  This method supports calls to methods taking primitive parameters via passing in wrapping classes. So, for example, a Boolean class would match a boolean primitive.
  
  Parameters:
  
  cls - invoke static method on this class
  
  methodName - get method with this name
  
  args - use these arguments - treat null as empty array
  
  parameterTypes - match these parameters - treat null as empty array
  
  Returns:
  
  The value returned by the invoked method
  
  Throws:
  
  NoSuchMethodException - if there is no such accessible method
  
  InvocationTargetException - wraps an exception thrown by the method invoked
  
  IllegalAccessException - if the requested method is not accessible via reflection

Class MethodUtils

Known Limitations

Accessing Public Methods In A Default Access Superclass

Constructor Summary

Method Summary

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

Constructor Details

MethodUtils

Method Details

getAccessibleMethod

getAccessibleMethod

getAnnotation

getMatchingAccessibleMethod

getMatchingMethod

getMethodObject

getMethodsListWithAnnotation

getMethodsListWithAnnotation

getMethodsWithAnnotation

getMethodsWithAnnotation

getOverrideHierarchy

invokeExactMethod

invokeExactMethod

invokeExactMethod

invokeExactStaticMethod

invokeExactStaticMethod

invokeMethod

invokeMethod

invokeMethod

invokeMethod

invokeMethod

invokeMethod

invokeStaticMethod

invokeStaticMethod