org.apache.commons.lang3.reflect

## Class MethodUtils

- java.lang.Object
- - org.apache.commons.lang3.reflect.MethodUtils

-     public class MethodUtils
      extends Object

  Utility reflection methods focused on `Method`s, 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
  Version:
    $Id: MethodUtils.java 1534831 2013-10-22 22:41:06Z mbenson $

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `MethodUtils()` `MethodUtils` instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `static Method` | `getAccessibleMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)` Returns an accessible method (that is, one that can be invoked via reflection) with given name and parameters.
    `static Method` | `getAccessibleMethod(Method method)` Returns an accessible method (that is, one that can be invoked via reflection) that implements the specified Method.
    `static Method` | `getMatchingAccessibleMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)` Finds an accessible method that matches the given name and has compatible parameters.
    `static Set<Method>` | `getOverrideHierarchy(Method method, ClassUtils.Interfaces interfacesBehavior)` Get the hierarchy of overridden methods down to `result` respecting generics.
    `static Object` | `invokeExactMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object... args)` Invokes a method whose parameter types match exactly the object types.
    `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, 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 Detail

    - #### MethodUtils

          public MethodUtils()

      `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 Detail

    - #### 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

    - #### 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

    - #### invokeExactMethod

          public static Object invokeExactMethod(Object object,
                                 String methodName,
                                 Object... args)
                                          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
        `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

    - #### 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

    - #### 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

    - #### 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

    - #### 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

    - #### getAccessibleMethod

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

      Returns 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)

      Returns 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
      Returns:
        The accessible method

    - #### getMatchingAccessibleMethod

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

      Finds 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

    - #### getOverrideHierarchy

          public static Set<Method> getOverrideHierarchy(Method method,
                                         ClassUtils.Interfaces interfacesBehavior)

      Get 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 in ascending order from sub- to superclass
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if the specified method is `null`
      Since:
        3.2

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