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This code doesn't compile: package tryNcry; public class ExampleClass<S extends SomeClass> { S[] createArray(int n) { return new S[n]; // obvious compile time ERROR here: ...
#2: Post edited
by
hkotsubo
·
2025-10-24T19:41:18Z (11 months ago)
force syntax highlight to Java + minor fixes
Java generics, how to work around type erasure?
Look at my code:```- package tryNcry;
- public class ExampleClass<S extends SomeClass> {
- S[] createArray(int n) {
- return new S[n]; // obvious compile time ERROR here:
- // Cannot create a generic array of S
- }
- }
- ```
The reason for this is obvious: *type erasure*, at runtime there is no way for the jre to know what "S" would have been, and so no way to create an array for type "S".Everything would be fine (if tedious) if there was any instant of "S", using reflection.What is the intended way to solve this?
- This code doesn't compile:
- ```java
- package tryNcry;
- public class ExampleClass<S extends SomeClass> {
- S[] createArray(int n) {
- return new S[n]; // obvious compile time ERROR here:
- // Cannot create a generic array of S
- }
- }
- ```
- The reason for this is obvious: due to *type erasure*, at runtime there is no way for the JRE to know what `S` would have been, and so no way to create an array for type `S`.
- Everything would be fine (if tedious) if there was any instance of `S`, using reflection.
- How can I solve this?
#1: Initial revision
by
watchmaker
·
2025-10-24T01:10:57Z (11 months ago)
Java generics, how to work around type erasure?
Look at my code:
```
package tryNcry;
public class ExampleClass<S extends SomeClass> {
S[] createArray(int n) {
return new S[n]; // obvious compile time ERROR here:
// Cannot create a generic array of S
}
}
```
The reason for this is obvious: *type erasure*, at runtime there is no way for the jre to know what "S" would have been, and so no way to create an array for type "S".
Everything would be fine (if tedious) if there was any instant of "S", using reflection.
What is the intended way to solve this?