getMethods

Learn method listing with getMethods.

Finding methods with getMethods

Class.getMethods() returns all public methods of a class, including inherited ones (for example from Object). Each method is a Method object.

Example: Method[] methods = String.class.getMethods(). In the returned array, m.getName() gives the method name, m.getReturnType() the return type, and m.getParameterTypes() the parameter types. To get only the class's own methods use getDeclaredMethods.

Inspecting a Method

A Method object carries plenty of information. getName returns the name, getReturnType the return type, getParameterTypes the parameter types.

Example: m.getName() and m.getParameterCount(). These methods let you discover a class's interface at runtime. A framework can learn which methods take which parameters and call them accordingly; this is a key tool in annotation processing and dependency injection.

Exercise Find the length method of String

Find the length method with String.class.getMethod("length"). Print its name using getName() with System.out.println. Add throws NoSuchMethodException to main.

Show example solution

public class StringMethods {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws NoSuchMethodException {
        Method m = String.class.getMethod("length");
        System.out.println(m.getName());
    }
}

Test yourself

Which method returns public methods, including inherited?
- getFields
- getConstructors
- getMethods
- getClasses
Show answer

getMethods — getMethods returns public methods.

Find a single method with getMethod

Method m = clazz.____("length");

Show answer

Method m = clazz.getMethod("length");

Match the Method methods

getMethods

Public methods
getName

Method name
getReturnType

Return type
getParameterTypes

Parameter types

Next lesson: invoke

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