Java Pattern Matching for instanceof
August 02, 2021
instanceof operator. The instanceof operator has been enhanced. Now it performs following steps.
The
instanceof operator
1. Matches whether an object has a particular structure.
2. Extracts data from that object if there is a match.
For the pattern matching feature, the
instanceof operator has been enhanced to conditionally extract data from objects. With this feature the code will be more concise.
Find the sample code to use enhanced
instanceof operator.
if (shape instanceof Rectangle r) {
r.length = 5;
r.width = 3;
System.out.println(r.getArea());
} else if (shape instanceof Square s) {
s.side = 4;
System.out.println(s.getArea());
}
instanceof operator was introduced in Java 14 as preview feature and previewed again in Java 15. The pattern matching for instanceof operator has been adopted as permanent language feature in Java 16 (JEP 394).
Using Enhanced instanceof Operator
Look into the below code snippet for enhanced instanceof operator.
if (shape instanceof Rectangle r) {
//
}
instanceof operator performs two steps.
1. Matches whether the object
shape has the structure of Rectangle class type. If no match, then it returns false boolean value.
2. If structure is matched then object
shape is typecast to Rectangle class and assigned to variable r.
The above same operation is achieved by old
instanceof operator as following.
if (shape instanceof Rectangle) {
Rectangle r = (Rectangle) shape;
//
}
instanceof operator.
MyApp.java
package com.concretepage;
interface Shape {
}
class Rectangle implements Shape {
int length;
int width;
public int getArea() {
return length * width;
}
}
class Square implements Shape {
int side;
public int getArea() {
return side * side;
}
}
public class MyApp {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Shape ob = new Rectangle();
calculateArea(ob);
ob = new Square();
calculateArea(ob);
}
static void calculateArea(Shape shape) {
if (shape instanceof Rectangle r) {
r.length = 5;
r.width = 3;
System.out.println(r.getArea());
} else if (shape instanceof Square s) {
s.side = 4;
System.out.println(s.getArea());
}
}
}
Understanding Pattern Variable Scope
1. The pattern variable can be used where the program can reach only if theinstanceof operator is true.
if (shape instanceof Rectangle r) {
//r can be used here.
} else if (shape instanceof Square s) {
//r cannot be used here.
//s can be used here.
} else {
//r cannot be used here.
//s cannot be used here.
}
else block in the case when instanceof operator returns true but if condition is false.
if (!(shape instanceof Rectangle r)) {
//r cannot be used here.
} else {
//r can be used here.
r.length = 5;
r.width = 3;
System.out.println(r.getArea());
}
if and else if statement with AND (&&) operator but not with OR (||) operator.
Find the code snippet with && operator.
if (shape instanceof Rectangle r && r.length > 10) { // Compiles successfully.
//
}
instanceof operator returns false then && block will not execute but || block will execute and that is why we cannot use pattern variable with ||. The following code will not compile.
if (shape instanceof Rectangle r || r.length > 10) { // Compilation error.
//
}
References
Pattern Matching for instanceofJEP 394: Pattern Matching for instanceof
