1

18

Generics

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 2

Every man of genius sees the world at a different

angle from his fellows.
— Havelock Ellis

…our special individuality, as distinguished from our

generic humanity.
— Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Born under one law, to another bound.

— Lord Brooke

You deal in the raw material of opinion, and, if my

convictions have any validity, opinion ultimately
governs the world.
— Woodrow Wilson

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education Inc. All rights reserved.

 3

OBJECTIVES
In this chapter you will learn:
▪ To create generic methods that perform identical
tasks on arguments of different types.
▪ To create a generic Stack class that can be used to
store objects of any class or interface type.
▪ To understand how to overload generic methods with
non-generic methods or with other generic methods.
▪ To understand raw types and how they help achieve
backwards compatibility.
▪ To use wildcards when precise type information about a
parameter is not required in the method body.
▪ The relationship between generics and inheritance.

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 4

18.1 Introduction
18.2 Motivation for Generic Methods
18.3 Generic Methods: Implementation and Compile-Time
Translation
18.4 Additional Compile-Time Translation Issues:
18.5 Overloading Generic Methods
18.6 Generic Classes
18.7 Raw Types
18.8 Wildcards in Methods That Accept Type Parameters
18.9 Generics and Inheritance: Notes
18.10 Wrap-Up
18.11 Internet and Web Resources

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 5

18.1 Introduction

• Generics
– New feature of J2SE 5.0
– Provide compile-time type safety
• Catch invalid types at compile time
– Generic methods
• A single method declaration
• A set of related methods
– Generic classes
• A single class declaration
• A set of related clases

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 6

Software Engineering Observation 18.1

Generic methods and classes are among Java’s

most powerful capabilities for software reuse
with compile-time type safety.

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 7

18.2 Motivation for Generic Methods

• Overloaded methods
– Perform similar operations on different types of data
– Overloaded printArray methods
• Integer array
• Double array
• Character array
– Only reference types can be used with generic methods and
classes

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.1: OverloadedMethods.java 8
2 // Using overloaded methods to print array of different types.
3
4 public class OverloadedMethods
5 {
6 // method printArray to print Integer array
7 public static void printArray( Integer[] inputArray )
8 {
9 // display array elements Method printArray accepts
10 for ( Integer element : inputArray ) an array of Integer objects
11 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
12
13 System.out.println();
14 } // end method printArray
15
16 // method printArray to print Double array
17 public static void printArray( Double[] inputArray )
18 {
19 // display array elements
Method printArray accepts
20 for ( Double element : inputArray ) an array of Double objects
21 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
22
23 System.out.println();
24 } // end method printArray
25

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26 // method printArray to print Character array 9
27 public static void printArray( Character[] inputArray )
28 {
29 // display array elements
Method printArray accepts
30 for ( Character element : inputArray ) an array of Character objects
31 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
32
33 System.out.println();
34 } // end method printArray
35
36 public static void main( String args[] )
37 {
38 // create arrays of Integer, Double and Character
39 Integer[] integerArray = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 };
40 Double[] doubleArray = { 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6, 7.7 };
41 Character[] characterArray = { 'H', 'E', 'L', 'L', 'O' };
42

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43 System.out.println( "Array integerArray contains:" ); 10
44 printArray( integerArray ); // pass an Integer array
45 System.out.println( "\nArray doubleArray contains:" );
At compile time, the compiler determines argument
46 printArray( doubleArray ); // pass a Double array
integerArray’s type (i.e., Integer[]), attempts
47 System.out.println( "\nArray characterArray contains:" );
to locate a method named printArray that
48 printArray( characterArray ); // pass a Character array
specifies a single Integer[] parameter (lines 7-14)
49 } // end main
50 } // end class OverloadedMethods
At compile time, the compiler determines argument
Array integerArray contains:
doubleArray’s type (i.e., Double[]), attempts to
1 2 3 4 5 6
locate a method named printArray that specifies
Array doubleArray contains: a single Double[] parameter (lines 17-24)
1.1 2.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6 7.7

Array characterArray contains: At compile time, the compiler determines argument

H E L L O characterArray’s type (i.e., Character[]),
attempts to locate a method named printArray that
specifies a single Character[] parameter (lines 27-
34)

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 11

18.2 Motivation for Generic Methods

(Cont.)
• Study each printArray method
– Array element type appears in two location
• Method header
• for statement header
• Combine three printArray methods into one
– Replace the element types with a generic name E
– Declare one printArray method
• Display the string representation of the elements of any array

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1 public static void printArray( E[] inputArray ) 12
2 {
3 // display array elements Replace the element type with
4 for ( E element : inputArray ) a single generic type E
5 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
Replace the element type with
6
a single generic type E
7 System.out.println();
8 } // end method printArray

Fig. 18.2 | printArray method in which actual type names are replaced by
convention with the generic name E.

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 13

18.3 Generic Methods: Implementation

and Compile-Time Translation
• Reimplement Fig. 18.1 using a generic method
– Method calls are identical
– Outputs are identical
• Generic method declaration
– Type parameter section
• Delimited by angle brackets ( < and > )
• Precede the method’s return type
• Contain one or more type parameters
– Also called formal type paramters

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 14

18.3 Generic Methods: Implementation

and Compile-Time Translation
• Type parameter
– Also known as type variable
– An identifier that specifies a generic type name
– Used to declare return type, parameter types and local
variable types
– Act as placeholders for the types of the argument passed to
the generic method
• Actual type arguments
– Can be declared only once but can appear more than once
public static < E > void printTwoArrays(
E[] array1, E[] array2 )

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 15

Common Programming Error 18.1

When declaring a generic method, failing to place

a type parameter section before the return type of
a method is a syntax error—the compiler will not
understand the type parameter name when it is
encountered in the method.

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1 // Fig. 18.3: GenericMethodTest.java 16
2 // Using generic methods to print array of different types.
3
4 public class GenericMethodTest
5 { Use the type parameter to declare
6 // generic method printArray method printArray’s parameter type
7 public static < E > void printArray( E[] inputArray )
8 {
9 // display array elements Type parameter section delimited
10 ) angle brackets (< and > )
for ( E element : inputArray by
11 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
12 Use the type parameter to declare method
13 System.out.println(); printArray’s local variable type
14 } // end method printArray
15
16 public static void main( String args[] )
17 {
18 // create arrays of Integer, Double and Character
19 Integer[] intArray = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
20 Double[] doubleArray = { 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6, 7.7 };
21 Character[] charArray = { 'H', 'E', 'L', 'L', 'O' };
22

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23 System.out.println( "Array integerArray contains:" ); 17
24 printArray( integerArray ); // pass an Integer array
25 System.out.println( "\nArray doubleArray contains:" );
26
Invoke generic method printArray
printArray( doubleArray ); // pass a Double array
27 System.out.println( "\nArray characterArray an Integer
withcontains:" ); array
28 printArray( characterArray ); // pass a Character array
29 } // end main
Invoke generic method printArray
30 } // end class GenericMethodTest
with a Double array
Array integerArray contains:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Array doubleArray contains:

Invoke generic method printArray
1.1 2.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6 7.7 with a Character array
Array characterArray contains:
H E L L O

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 18

Good Programming Practice 18.1

It is recommended that type parameters be

specified as individual capital letters. Typically,
a type parameter that represents the type of an
element in an array (or other collection) is
named E for “element.”

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 19

Common Programming Error 18.2

If the compiler cannot match a method call to

a non-generic or a generic method declaration,
a compilation error occurs.

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 20

Common Programming Error 18.3

If the compiler does not find a method declaration

that matches a method call exactly, but does find
two or more generic methods that can satisfy the
method call, a compilation error occurs.

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 21

18.3 Generic Methods: Implementation

and Compile-Time Translation (Cont.)
• Compile-time translation
– Erasure
• Remove type parameter section
• Replace type parameters with actual types
• Default type is Object

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1 public static void printArray( Object[] inputArray ) 22
2 {
3 // display array elements Remove type parameter section and replace
4 for ( Object element : inputArray ) type parameter with actual type Object
5 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
6 Replace type parameter with
7 System.out.println(); actual type Object
8 } // end method printArray

Fig. 18.4 | Generic method printArray after erasure is performed by the

compiler.

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

18.4 Additional Compile-Time Translation 23

Issues: Methods That Use a Type Parameter as

the Return Type
• Application of Fig. 18.5
– Generic method
– Use Type parameters in the return type and parameter list
• Generic interface
– Specify, with a single interface declaration, a set of related types
– E.g., Comparable< T >
• Method integer1.compareTo( integer2 )
– Compare two objects of the same class
– Return 0 if two objects are equal
– Return -1 if integer1 is less than integer2
– Return 1 if integer1 is greater than integer2

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1 // Fig. 18.5: MaximumTest.java 24
2 // Generic method maximum returns the largest of three objects.
3
4 public class MaximumTest
5 {
6 // determines the largest of three Comparable objects
7 public static < T extends Comparable< T > > T maximum( T x, T y, T z )
8 {
9 Type
T max = x; // assume x is initially the largest parameter
Typesection
parameter
specifies
is usedthat
in the
only
10 objectmax
Assign x to local variable of classes
returnthat
typeimplement maximum
of methodinterface
11 if ( y.compareTo( max ) > 0 ) Comparable can be used with this method
12 max = y; // y is the largest so far
Invokes method compareTo method
13
Comparable to compare y and max
14 if ( z.compareTo( max ) > 0 )
15 max = z; // z is the largest Invokes method compareTo method
16
Comparable to compare z and max
17 return max; // returns the largest object
18 } // end method maximum
19

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20 public static void main( String args[] ) 25
21 {
22 System.out.printf( "Maximum of %d, %d and %d is %d\n\n", 3, 4, 5,
23 maximum( 3, 4, 5 ) );
Invoke generic method
24 System.out.printf( "Maximum of %.1f, %.1f and %.1f is %.1f\n\n",
maximum with three integers
25 6.6, 8.8, 7.7, maximum( 6.6, 8.8, 7.7 ) );
26 System.out.printf( "Maximum of %s, %s and %s is %s\n", Invoke
"pear",generic
method
27 "apple", "orange", maximum( "pear", "apple", maximum
"orange" ) ); with three doubles
28 } // end main
29 } // end class MaximumTest Invoke generic method
maximum with three strings

Maximum of 3, 4 and 5 is 5

Maximum of 6.6, 8.8 and 7.7 is 8.8

Maximum of pear, apple and orange is pear

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

18.4 Additional Compile-Time Translation 26

Issues: Methods That Use a Type Parameter as

the Return Type (Cont.)
• Upper bound of type parameter
– Default is Object
– Always use keyword extends
• E.g., T extends Comparable< T >
– When compiler translates generic method to Java bytecode
• Replaces type parameter with its upper bound
• Insert explicit cast operation
e.g., line 23 of Fig. 18.5 I preceded by an Integer cast
(Integer) maximum( 3, 4, 5 )

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 public static Comparable maximum(Comparable x, Comparable y, Comparable z) 27
2 {
3
Erasure replaces type parameter T
Comparable max = x; // assume x is initially the largest
4 with its upper bound Comparable
5 if ( y.compareTo( max ) > 0 )
6 max = y; // y is the largest so far
7 Erasure replaces type parameter T
8 if ( z.compareTo( max ) > ) its upper bound Comparable
0with
9 max = z; // z is the largest
10
11 return max; // returns the largest object
12 } // end method maximum

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 28

18.5 Overloading Generic Method

• Generic method may be overloaded

– By another generic method
• Same method name but different method parameters
– By non-generic methods
• Same method name and number of parameters
• When compiler encounters a method call
– Search for most precise matching method first
• Exact method name and argument types
– Then search for inexact but applicable matching method

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 29

18.6 Generic Classes

• Generic classes
– Use a simple, concise notation to indicate the actual type(s)
– At compilation time, Java compiler
• ensures the type safety
• uses the erasure technique to enable client code to interact
with the generic class
• Parameterized classes
– Also called parameterized types
– E.g., Stack< Double >

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 30

18.6 Generic Classes (Cont.)

• Generic class declaration

– Looks like a non-generic class declaration
– Except class name is followed by a type parameter section
• The –Xlint:unchecked option
– Compiler cannot 100% ensure type safety

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1 // Fig. 18.7: Stack.java 31
2 // Generic class Stack.
3
4 public class Stack< E >
5 {
6
Generic class declaration, class name is
private final int size; // number of elements in the stack
7 private int top; // location of thefollowed by a type parameter
top element section
8 private E[] elements; // array that stores stack elements
9
Declare elements as an array
10 // no-argument constructor creates a stack of the default size
11 public Stack()
that stores objects of type E
12 {
13 this( 10 ); // default stack size
14 } // end no-argument Stack constructor
15
16 // constructor creates a stack of the specified number of elements
17 public Stack( int s )
18 {
19 size = s > 0 ? s : 10; // set size of Stack
20 top = -1; // Stack initially empty
21
22 elements = ( E[] ) new Object[ size ]; // create array
23 } // end Stack constructor Create an array of type E. The generic
24 mechanism does not allow type parameter
in array-creation expressions because the
type parameter is not available at runtime

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25 // push element onto stack; if successful, return true; 32
26 // otherwise, throw FullStackException
27 public void push( E pushValue )
28 {
Method push pushes
29 if ( top == size - 1 ) // if stack is full
30 throw new FullStackException(
element of type E onto stack
String.format(
31 "Stack is full, cannot push %s", pushValue ) );
32
33 elements[ ++top ] = pushValue; // place pushValue on Stack
34 } // end method push
35
36 // return the top element if not empty; else throw EmptyStackException
37 public E pop()
38 { Method pop returns the top
39 if ( top == -1 ) // if element,
stack is which
empty is of type E
40 throw new EmptyStackException( "Stack is empty, cannot pop" );
41
42 return elements[ top-- ]; // remove and return top element of Stack
43 } // end method pop
44 } // end class Stack< E >

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.8: FullStackException.java 33
2 // Indicates a stack is full.
3 public class FullStackException extends RuntimeException
4 {
5 // no-argument constructor
6 public FullStackException()
7 {
8 this( "Stack is full" );
9 } // end no-argument FullStackException constructor
10
11 // one-argument constructor
12 public FullStackException( String exception )
13 {
14 super( exception );
15 } // end one-argument FullStackException constructor
16 } // end class FullStackException

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.9: EmptyStackException.java 34
2 // Indicates a stack is full.
3 public class EmptyStackException extends RuntimeException
4 {
5 // no-argument constructor
6 public EmptyStackException()
7 {
8 this( "Stack is empty" );
9 } // end no-argument EmptyStackException constructor
10
11 // one-argument constructor
12 public EmptyStackException( String exception )
13 {
14 super( exception );
15 } // end one-argument EmptyStackException constructor
16 } // end class EmptyStackException

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 35

18.6 Generic Classes (Cont.)

• Generic class at compilation time

– Compiler performs erasure on class’s type parameters
– Compiler replaces type parameters with their upper bound
• Generic class test program at compilation time
– Compiler performs type checking
– Compiler inserts cast operations as necessary

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.10: StackTest.java 36
2 // Stack generic class test program.
3
4 public class StackTest
5 {
6 private double[] doubleElements = { 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6 };
7 private int[] integerElements = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 };
8
9 private Stack< Double > doubleStack; // stack stores Double objects
10 private Stack< Integer > integerStack; // stack stores Integer objects
11
Generic class Stack’s type
12 // test Stack objects argument is Double
13 public void testStacks()
Generic class Stack’s type
14 {
15 doubleStack = new Stack< Double >( 5 ); //argument
Stack of is Integer
Doubles
16 integerStack = new Stack< Integer >( 10 ); // Stack of Integers
17 Instantiate object doubleStack of
18 testPushDouble(); // push double onto doubleStack size 5 and ingeterStack of size 10
19 testPopDouble(); // pop from doubleStack
20 testPushInteger(); // push int onto intStack
21 testPopInteger(); // pop from intStack
22 } // end method testStacks
23

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24 // test push method with double stack 37
25 public void testPushDouble()
26 {
27 // push elements onto stack
28 try
29 {
30 System.out.println( "\nPushing elements onto doubleStack" );
31
32 // push elements to Stack
33 for ( double element : doubleElements )
34 {
35 System.out.printf( "%.1f ", element );
36 doubleStack.push( element ); // push onto doubleStack
37 } // end for
Invoke Stack’s method push to place
38 } // end try
39 catch ( FullStackException fullStackException ) a double value onto doubleStack
40 {
41 System.err.println();
42 fullStackException.printStackTrace();
43 } // end catch FullStackException
44 } // end method testPushDouble
45

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46 // test pop method with double stack 38
47 public void testPopDouble()
48 {
49 // pop elements from stack
50 try
51 {
52 System.out.println( "\nPopping elements from doubleStack" );
53 double popValue; // store element removed from stack
54
55 // remove all elements from Stack
56 while ( true )
57 {
58 popValue = doubleStack.pop(); // pop from doubleStack
59 System.out.printf( "%.1f ", popValue );
60 } // end while
Auto-unboxing occurs when the value
61 } // end try
returned by pop (Double) is assigned
62 catch( EmptyStackException emptyStackException ) to a double primitive variable
63 {
64 System.err.println();
65 emptyStackException.printStackTrace();
66 } // end catch EmptyStackException
67 } // end method testPopDouble
68

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69 // test push method with integer stack 39
70 public void testPushInteger()
71 {
72 // push elements to stack
73 try
74 {
75 System.out.println( "\nPushing elements onto intStack" );
76
77 // push elements to Stack
78 for ( int element : integerElements )
79 {
80 System.out.printf( "%d ", element );
81 integerStack.push( element ); // push onto integerStack
82 } // end for Invoke Stack’s method push to place
83 } // end try
an int value onto integerStack
84 catch ( FullStackException fullStackException )
85 {
86 System.err.println();
87 fullStackException.printStackTrace();
88 } // end catch FullStackException
89 } // end method testPushInteger
90

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91 // test pop method with integer stack 40
92 public void testPopInteger()
93 {
94 // pop elements from stack
95 try
96 {
97 System.out.println( "\nPopping elements from intStack" );
98 int popValue; // store element removed from stack
99
100 // remove all elements from Stack
101 while ( true )
102 {
103 popValue = integerStack.pop(); // pop from intStack
104 System.out.printf( "%d ", popValue ); Auto-unboxing occurs when the value
105 } // end while
returned by pop (Integer) is assigned
106 } // end try
to an int primitive variable
107 catch( EmptyStackException emptyStackException )
108 {
109 System.err.println();
110 emptyStackException.printStackTrace();
111 } // end catch EmptyStackException
112 } // end method testPopInteger
113
114 public static void main( String args[] )
115 {
116 StackTest application = new StackTest();
117 application.testStacks();
118 } // end main
119 } // end class StackTest

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 41
Pushing elements onto doubleStack
1.1 2.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 6.6
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at StackTest.testPushDouble(StackTest.java:36)
at StackTest.testStacks(StackTest.java:18)
at StackTest.main(StackTest.java:117)
Popping elements from doubleStack
5.5 4.4 3.3 2.2 1.1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at StackTest.testPopDouble(StackTest.java:58)
at StackTest.testStacks(StackTest.java:19)
at StackTest.main(StackTest.java:117)

Pushing elements onto integerStack

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 11
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at StackTest.testPushInteger(StackTest.java:81)
at StackTest.testStacks(StackTest.java:20)
at StackTest.main(StackTest.java:117)
Popping elements from integerStack
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at StackTest.testPopInteger(StackTest.java:103)
at StackTest.testStacks(StackTest.java:21)
at StackTest.main(StackTest.java:117)

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 42

18.6 Generic Classes (Cont.)

• Creating generic methods to test class Stack< E >
– Method testPush
• Perform same tasks as testPushDouble and
testPushInteger
– Method testPop
• Perform same tasks as testPopDouble and
testPopInteger

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.11: StackTest2.java 43
2 // Stack generic class test program.
3
4 public class StackTest2
5 {
6 private Double[] doubleElements = { 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6 };
7 private Integer[] integerElements =
8 { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 };
9
10 private Stack< Double > doubleStack; // stack stores Double objects
11 private Stack< Integer > integerStack; // stack stores Integer objects
12
13 // test Stack objects
14 public void testStacks()
15 {
16 doubleStack = new Stack< Double >( 5 ); // Stack of Doubles
17 integerStack = new Stack< Integer >( 10 ); // Stack of Integers
18
19 testPush( "doubleStack", doubleStack, doubleElements );
20 testPop( "doubleStack", doubleStack );
21 testPush( "integerStack", integerStack, integerElements ); generic methods testPush and
Invoke
22 testPop( "integerStack", integerStack ); testPop to push elements onto stack
23 } // end method testStacks
and pop elements from stack
24

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25 // generic method testPush pushes elements onto a Stack 44
26 public < T > void testPush( String name, Stack< T > stack,
27 T[] elements )
28 { Generic method testPush replaces
29 // push elements onto stack testPushDouble and testPushInteger
30 try
31 {
32 System.out.printf( "\nPushing elements onto %s\n", name );
33
34 // push elements onto Stack
35 for ( T element : elements )
36 { Replace element type Double/Integer
37 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
with type parameter T
38 stack.push( element ); // push element onto stack
39 }
40 } // end try
41 catch ( FullStackException fullStackException )
42 {
43 System.out.println();
44 fullStackException.printStackTrace();
45 } // end catch FullStackException
46 } // end method testPush
47

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48 // generic method testPop pops elements from a Stack 45
49 public < T > void testPop( String name, Stack< T > stack )
50 {
51 // pop elements from stack Generic method testPop replaces
52 try testPopDouble and testPopInteger
53 {
54 System.out.printf( "\nPopping elements from %s\n", name );
55 T popValue; // store element removed from stack
56
Replace element type Double/Integer
57 // remove elements from Stack
58 while ( true )
with type parameter T
59 {
60 popValue = stack.pop(); // pop from stack
61 System.out.printf( "%s ", popValue );
62 } // end while
63 } // end try
64 catch( EmptyStackException emptyStackException )
65 {
66 System.out.println();
67 emptyStackException.printStackTrace();
68 } // end catch EmptyStackException
69 } // end method testPop
70
71 public static void main( String args[] )
72 {
73 StackTest2 application = new StackTest2();
74 application.testStacks();
75 } // end main
76 } // end class StackTest2

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 46
Pushing elements onto doubleStack
1.1 2.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 6.6
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at StackTest2.testPush(StackTest2.java:38)
at StackTest2.testStacks(StackTest2.java:19)
at StackTest2.main(StackTest2.java:74)

Popping elements from doubleStack

5.5 4.4 3.3 2.2 1.1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at StackTest2.testPop(StackTest2.java:60)
at StackTest2.testStacks(StackTest2.java:20)
at StackTest2.main(StackTest2.java:74)

Pushing elements onto integerStack

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 11
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at StackTest2.testPush(StackTest2.java:38)
at StackTest2.testStacks(StackTest2.java:21)
at StackTest2.main(StackTest2.java:74)

Popping elements from integerStack

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at StackTest2.testPop(StackTest2.java:60)
at StackTest2.testStacks(StackTest2.java:22)
at StackTest2.main(StackTest2.java:74)

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 47

18.7 Raw Types

• Raw type
– Enables to instantiate generic class without specifying a
type argument
e.g., Stack objectStack = new Stack( 5 );
objectStack is said to have a raw type
– Important for backwards compatibility with prior versions
– A raw type Stack variable can be assigned a Stack that
specifies a type argument
– A Stack variable that specifies a type argument can be
assigned a raw type Stack
• Permitted but unsafe
• Use the –Xlint:unchecked option to compile

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.12: RawTypeTest.java 48
2 // Raw type test program.
3
4 public class RawTypeTest
5 {
6 private Double[] doubleElements = { 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6 };
7 private Integer[] integerElements =
8 { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 };
9
10 // method to test Stacks with raw types
11 public void testStacks()
12 {
13 // Stack of raw types assigned to Stack of raw types variable
14 Stack rawTypeStack1 = new Stack( 5 );
15 Instantiate generic class
16 // Stack< Double > assigned to Stack of raw types variable
Stack with raw type
17 Stack rawTypeStack2 = new Stack< Double >( 5 );
18 Assign a Stack< Double >
19 // Stack of raw types assigned to Stack< Integer > variable
to variable rawTypeStack2
20 Stack< Integer > integerStack = new Stack( 10 );
21
Assign a Stack of raw type
22 testPush( "rawTypeStack1", rawTypeStack1, doubleElements );
23 testPop( "rawTypeStack1", rawTypeStack1 ); to Stack< Integer >.
24 testPush( "rawTypeStack2", rawTypeStack2, doubleElements ); Legal but unsafe
25 testPop( "rawTypeStack2", rawTypeStack2 );
26 testPush( "integerStack", integerStack, integerElements );
27 testPop( "integerStack", integerStack );
28 } // end method testStacks
29

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30 // generic method pushes elements onto stack 49
31 public < T > void testPush( String name, Stack< T > stack,
32 T[] elements )
33 {
34 // push elements onto stack
35 try
36 {
37 System.out.printf( "\nPushing elements onto %s\n", name );
38
39 // push elements onto Stack
40 for ( T element : elements )
41 {
42 System.out.printf( "%s ", element );
43 stack.push( element ); // push element onto stack
44 } // end for
45 } // end try
46 catch ( FullStackException fullStackException )
47 {
48 System.out.println();
49 fullStackException.printStackTrace();
50 } // end catch FullStackException
51 } // end method testPush
52

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

53 // generic method testPop pops elements from stack 50
54 public < T > void testPop( String name, Stack< T > stack )
55 {
56 // pop elements from stack
57 try
58 {
59 System.out.printf( "\nPopping elements from %s\n", name );
60 T popValue; // store element removed from stack
61
62 // remove elements from Stack
63 while ( true )
64 {
65 popValue = stack.pop(); // pop from stack
66 System.out.printf( "%s ", popValue );
67 } // end while
68 } // end try
69 catch( EmptyStackException emptyStackException )
70 {
71 System.out.println();
72 emptyStackException.printStackTrace();
73 } // end catch EmptyStackException
74 } // end method testPop
75
76 public static void main( String args[] )
77 {
78 RawTypeTest application = new RawTypeTest();
79 application.testStacks();
80 } // end main
81 } // end class RawTypeTest

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 51
Pushing elements onto rawTypeStack1
1.1 2.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 6.6
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at RawTypeTest.testPush(RawTypeTest.java:43)
at RawTypeTest.testStacks(RawTypeTest.java:22)
at RawTypeTest.main(RawTypeTest.java:79)

Popping elements from rawTypeStack1

5.5 4.4 3.3 2.2 1.1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at RawTypeTest.testPop(RawTypeTest.java:65)
at RawTypeTest.testStacks(RawTypeTest.java:23)
at RawTypeTest.main(RawTypeTest.java:79)

Pushing elements onto rawTypeStack2

1.1 2.2 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 6.6
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at RawTypeTest.testPush(RawTypeTest.java:43)
at RawTypeTest.testStacks(RawTypeTest.java:24)
at RawTypeTest.main(RawTypeTest.java:79)

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 52
Popping elements from rawTypeStack2
5.5 4.4 3.3 2.2 1.1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at RawTypeTest.testPop(RawTypeTest.java:65)
at RawTypeTest.testStacks(RawTypeTest.java:25)
at RawTypeTest.main(RawTypeTest.java:79)

Pushing elements onto integerStack

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
FullStackException: Stack is full, cannot push 11
at Stack.push(Stack.java:30)
at RawTypeTest.testPush(RawTypeTest.java:43)
at RawTypeTest.testStacks(RawTypeTest.java:26)
at RawTypeTest.main(RawTypeTest.java:79)

Popping elements from integerStack

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
EmptyStackException: Stack is empty, cannot pop
at Stack.pop(Stack.java:40)
at RawTypeTest.testPop(RawTypeTest.java:65)
at RawTypeTest.testStacks(RawTypeTest.java:27)
at RawTypeTest.main(RawTypeTest.java:79)

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 53
RawTypeTest.java:20: warning: unchecked assignment
found : Stack
required: Stack<java.lang.Integer>
Stack< Integer > integerStack = new Stack( 10 );
^
RawTypeTest.java:22: warning: [unchecked] unchecked method invocation:
<T>testPush(java.lang.String,Stack<T>,T[]) in RawTypeTest is applied to
(java.lang.String,Stack,java.lang.Double[])
testPush( "rawTypeStack1", rawTypeStack1, doubleElements );
^
RawTypeTest.java:23: warning: [unchecked] unchecked method invocation:
<T>testPop(java.lang.String,Stack<T>) in RawTypeTest is applied to
(java.lang.String,Stack)
testPop( "rawTypeStack1", rawTypeStack1 );
^
RawTypeTest.java:24: warning: [unchecked] unchecked method invocation:
<T>testPush(java.lang.String,Stack<T>,T[]) in RawTypeTest is applied to
(java.lang.String,Stack,java.lang.Double[])
testPush( "rawTypeStack2", rawTypeStack2, doubleElements );
^
RawTypeTest.java:25: warning: [unchecked] unchecked method invocation:
<T>testPop(java.lang.String,Stack<T>) in RawTypeTest is applied to
(java.lang.String,Stack)
testPop( "rawTypeStack2", rawTypeStack2 );
^
5 warnings

Fig. 18.13 | Warning message from the compiler.

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 54

18.8 Wildcards in Methods That Accept

Type Parameters
• Data structure ArrayList
– Dynamically resizable, array-like data structure
– Method add
– Method toString
• Motivation for using wildcards
– Implement a generic method sum
• Total the numbers in a collection
• Receive a parameter of type ArrayList< Number >
• Use method doubleValue of class Number to obtain the
Number’s underlying primitive value as a double value

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.14: TotalNumbers.java 55
2 // Summing the elements of an ArrayList.
3 import java.util.ArrayList;
4
5 public class TotalNumbers
6 {
7 public static void main( String args[] )
8 {
9 Declare
// create, initialize and output ArrayList of Numbers and initialize
containing
10 // both Integers and Doubles, then display total of the numbers
array elements
11 Number[] numbers = { 1, 2.4, 3, 4.1 }; // Integers and Doubles
12 ArrayList< Number > numberList = new ArrayList< Number >();
13
14 for ( Number element : numbers ) Declare and initialize numberList,
15 numberList.add( element ); // place each numberwhich stores Number objects
in numberList
16 Add elements in numbers array
17 System.out.printf( "numberList contains: %s\n", numberList );
to ArrayList numberList
18 System.out.printf( "Total of the elements in numberList: %.1f\n",
19 sum( numberList ) );
20 } // end main Invoke method sum to calculate the total
21
of the elements stored in numberList

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

22 // calculate total of ArrayList elements 56
23 public static double sum( ArrayList< Number > list )
24 {
Method sum accepts an ArrayList
25 double total = 0; // initialize total
that stores Number objects
26
27 // calculate sum
28 for ( Number element : list )
29 total += element.doubleValue();
30 Use method doubleValue of class
31 return total; Number to obtain the Number’s underlying
32 } // end method sum primitive value as a double value
33 } // end class TotalNumbers

numberList contains: [1, 2.4, 3, 4.1]

Total of the elements in numberList: 10.5

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 57

18.8 Wildcards in Methods That Accept

Type Parameters (Cont.)
• Implementing method sum with a wildcard type
argument in its parameter
– Number is the superclass of Integer
– ArrayList< Number > is not a supertype of
ArrayList< Integer >
– Cannot pass ArrayList< Integer > to method sum
– Use wildcard to create a more flexible version of sum
• ArrayList< ? extends Number >
• ? Represents an “unknown type”
• Unknown type argument must be either Number or a
subclass of Number
• Cannot use wildcard as a type name through method body

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

1 // Fig. 18.15: WildcardTest.java 58
2 // Wildcard test program.
3 import java.util.ArrayList;
4
5 public class WildcardTest
6 {
7 public static void main( String args[] )
8 {
9 // create, initialize and output ArrayList of Integers, then
10 // display total of the elements
11 Integer[] integers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };
12 ArrayList< Integer > integerList = new ArrayList< Integer >();
13
14 // insert elements in integerList
Declare and create ArrayList
15 for ( Integer element : integers ) integerList to hold Integers
16 integerList.add( element );
17
18 System.out.printf( "integerList contains: %s\n", integerList );
19 System.out.printf( "Total of the elements in integerList: %.0f\n\n",
20 sum( integerList ) );
21 Invoke method sum to calculate the total
22 // create, initialize and output ArrayList of Doubles, then
of the elements stored in integerList
23 // display total of the elements
24 Double[] doubles = { 1.1, 3.3, 5.5 };
25 ArrayList< Double > doubleList = new ArrayList< Double >();
26
27 // insert elements in doubleList
Declare and create ArrayList
28 for ( Double element : doubles ) doubleList to hold Doubles
29 doubleList.add( element );
30

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

31 System.out.printf( "doubleList contains: %s\n", doubleList ); 59
32 System.out.printf( "Total of the elements in doubleList: %.1f\n\n",
33 sum( doubleList ) );
34 Invoke method sum to calculate the total
35 // create, initialize and output ArrayList of Numbers containing
of the elements stored in doubleList
36 // both Integers and Doubles, then display total of the elements
37 Number[] numbers = { 1, 2.4, 3, 4.1 }; // Integers and Doubles
38 ArrayList< Number > numberList = new ArrayList< Number >();
39
40 // insert elements in numberList Declare and create ArrayList
41 for ( Number element : numbers ) integerList to hold Numberss
42 numberList.add( element );
43
44 System.out.printf( "numberList contains: %s\n", numberList );
45 System.out.printf( "Total of the elements in numberList: %.1f\n",
46 sum( numberList ) );
47 } // end main
Invoke method sum to calculate the total
48
of the elements stored in numberList
49 // calculate total of stack elements
50 public static double sum( ArrayList< ? extends Number > list )
51 {
52 double total = 0; // initialize total The ArrayList argument’s element types
53 are not directly known by the method, they
are known to be at least of type Number

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

54 // calculate sum 60
55 for ( Number element : list )
56 total += element.doubleValue();
57
58 return total;
59 } // end method sum
60 } // end class WildcardTest

integerList contains: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Total of the elements in integerList: 15

doubleList contains: [1.1, 3.3, 5.5]

Total of the elements in doubleList: 9.9

numberList contains: [1, 2.4, 3, 4.1]

Total of the elements in numberList: 10.5

© 1992-2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 61

Common Programming Error 18.4

Using a wildcard in a method’s type parameter

section or using a wildcard as an explicit type of a
variable in the method body is a syntax error.

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 62

18.9 Generics and Inheritance: Notes

• Inheritance in generics
– Generic class can be derived from non-generic class
e.g., class Object is superclass of every generic class
– Generic class can be derived from another generic class
e.g., Stack is a subclass of Vector
– Non-generic class can be derived from generic class
e.g., Properties is a subclass of Hashtable
– Generic method in subclass can override generic method in
superclass
• If both methods have the same signature

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