org.apache.commons.lang3

## Class ClassUtils

- java.lang.Object
- - org.apache.commons.lang3.ClassUtils

-     public class ClassUtils
      extends Object

  Operates on classes without using reflection.

  This class handles invalid `null` inputs as best it can. Each method documents its behaviour in more detail.

  The notion of a `canonical name` includes the human readable name for the type, for example `int[]`. The non-canonical method variants work with the JVM names, such as `[I`.

  Since:
    2.0

- - ### Nested Class Summary

    Nested Classes
    Modifier and Type | Class and Description
    --- | ---
    `static class` | `ClassUtils.Interfaces` Inclusivity literals for `hierarchy(Class, Interfaces)`.

  - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `static String` | `INNER_CLASS_SEPARATOR` The inner class separator String: `"$"`.
    `static char` | `INNER_CLASS_SEPARATOR_CHAR` The inner class separator character: `'$' == 36`.
    `static String` | `PACKAGE_SEPARATOR` The package separator String: `"."`.
    `static char` | `PACKAGE_SEPARATOR_CHAR` The package separator character: `'.' == 46`.

  - ### Constructor Summary

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

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `static List<String>` | `convertClassesToClassNames(List<Class<?>> classes)` Given a `List` of `Class` objects, this method converts them into class names.
    `static List<Class<?>>` | `convertClassNamesToClasses(List<String> classNames)` Given a `List` of class names, this method converts them into classes.
    `static String` | `getAbbreviatedName(Class<?> cls, int len)` Gets the abbreviated name of a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getAbbreviatedName(String className, int len)` Gets the abbreviated class name from a `String`.
    `static List<Class<?>>` | `getAllInterfaces(Class<?> cls)` Gets a `List` of all interfaces implemented by the given class and its superclasses.
    `static List<Class<?>>` | `getAllSuperclasses(Class<?> cls)` Gets a `List` of superclasses for the given class.
    `static String` | `getCanonicalName(Class<?> cls)` Gets the canonical class name for a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getCanonicalName(Class<?> cls, String valueIfNull)` Gets the canonical name for a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getCanonicalName(Object object)` Gets the canonical name for an `Object`.
    `static String` | `getCanonicalName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Gets the canonical name for an `Object`.
    `static Class<?>` | `getClass(ClassLoader classLoader, String className)` Returns the (initialized) class represented by `className` using the `classLoader`.
    `static Class<?>` | `getClass(ClassLoader classLoader, String className, boolean initialize)` Returns the class represented by `className` using the `classLoader`.
    `static Class<?>` | `getClass(String className)` Returns the (initialized) class represented by `className` using the current thread's context class loader.
    `static Class<?>` | `getClass(String className, boolean initialize)` Returns the class represented by `className` using the current thread's context class loader.
    `static String` | `getName(Class<?> cls)` Null-safe version of `Class.getName()`
    `static String` | `getName(Class<?> cls, String valueIfNull)` Null-safe version of `aClass.getName()`
    `static String` | `getName(Object object)` Null-safe version of `Class.getName()`
    `static String` | `getName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`
    `static String` | `getPackageCanonicalName(Class<?> cls)` Gets the package name from the canonical name of a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getPackageCanonicalName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Gets the package name from the canonical name of an `Object`.
    `static String` | `getPackageCanonicalName(String canonicalName)` Gets the package name from the canonical name.
    `static String` | `getPackageName(Class<?> cls)` Gets the package name of a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getPackageName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Gets the package name of an `Object`.
    `static String` | `getPackageName(String className)` Gets the package name from a `String`.
    `static Method` | `getPublicMethod(Class<?> cls, String methodName, Class<?>... parameterTypes)` Returns the desired Method much like `Class.getMethod`, however it ensures that the returned Method is from a public class or interface and not from an anonymous inner class.
    `static String` | `getShortCanonicalName(Class<?> cls)` Gets the canonical name minus the package name from a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getShortCanonicalName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Gets the canonical name minus the package name for an `Object`.
    `static String` | `getShortCanonicalName(String canonicalName)` Gets the canonical name minus the package name from a String.
    `static String` | `getShortClassName(Class<?> cls)` Gets the class name minus the package name from a `Class`.
    `static String` | `getShortClassName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Gets the class name minus the package name for an `Object`.
    `static String` | `getShortClassName(String className)` Gets the class name minus the package name from a String.
    `static String` | `getSimpleName(Class<?> cls)` Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`
    `static String` | `getSimpleName(Class<?> cls, String valueIfNull)` Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`
    `static String` | `getSimpleName(Object object)` Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`
    `static String` | `getSimpleName(Object object, String valueIfNull)` Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`
    `static Iterable<Class<?>>` | `hierarchy(Class<?> type)` Get an `Iterable` that can iterate over a class hierarchy in ascending (subclass to superclass) order, excluding interfaces.
    `static Iterable<Class<?>>` | `hierarchy(Class<?> type, ClassUtils.Interfaces interfacesBehavior)` Get an `Iterable` that can iterate over a class hierarchy in ascending (subclass to superclass) order.
    `static boolean` | `isAssignable(Class<?>[] classArray, Class<?>... toClassArray)` Checks if an array of Classes can be assigned to another array of Classes.
    `static boolean` | `isAssignable(Class<?>[] classArray, Class<?>[] toClassArray, boolean autoboxing)` Checks if an array of Classes can be assigned to another array of Classes.
    `static boolean` | `isAssignable(Class<?> cls, Class<?> toClass)` Checks if one `Class` can be assigned to a variable of another `Class`.
    `static boolean` | `isAssignable(Class<?> cls, Class<?> toClass, boolean autoboxing)` Checks if one `Class` can be assigned to a variable of another `Class`.
    `static boolean` | `isInnerClass(Class<?> cls)` Is the specified class an inner class or static nested class.
    `static boolean` | `isPrimitiveOrWrapper(Class<?> type)` Returns whether the given `type` is a primitive or primitive wrapper (`Boolean`, `Byte`, `Character`, `Short`, `Integer`, `Long`, `Double`, `Float`).
    `static boolean` | `isPrimitiveWrapper(Class<?> type)` Returns whether the given `type` is a primitive wrapper (`Boolean`, `Byte`, `Character`, `Short`, `Integer`, `Long`, `Double`, `Float`).
    `static Class<?>[]` | `primitivesToWrappers(Class<?>... classes)` Converts the specified array of primitive Class objects to an array of its corresponding wrapper Class objects.
    `static Class<?>` | `primitiveToWrapper(Class<?> cls)` Converts the specified primitive Class object to its corresponding wrapper Class object.
    `static Class<?>[]` | `toClass(Object... array)` Converts an array of `Object` in to an array of `Class` objects.
    `static Class<?>[]` | `wrappersToPrimitives(Class<?>... classes)` Converts the specified array of wrapper Class objects to an array of its corresponding primitive Class objects.
    `static Class<?>` | `wrapperToPrimitive(Class<?> cls)` Converts the specified wrapper class to its corresponding primitive class.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### PACKAGE_SEPARATOR_CHAR

          public static final char PACKAGE_SEPARATOR_CHAR

      The package separator character: `'.' == 46`.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### PACKAGE_SEPARATOR

          public static final String PACKAGE_SEPARATOR

      The package separator String: `"."`.

    - #### INNER_CLASS_SEPARATOR_CHAR

          public static final char INNER_CLASS_SEPARATOR_CHAR

      The inner class separator character: `'$' == 36`.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values

    - #### INNER_CLASS_SEPARATOR

          public static final String INNER_CLASS_SEPARATOR

      The inner class separator String: `"$"`.

  - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### ClassUtils

          public ClassUtils()

      ClassUtils instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming. Instead, the class should be used as `ClassUtils.getShortClassName(cls)`.

      This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance to operate.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getShortClassName

          public static String getShortClassName(Object object,
                                 String valueIfNull)

      Gets the class name minus the package name for an `Object`.

      Parameters:
        `object` - the class to get the short name for, may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if null
      Returns:
        the class name of the object without the package name, or the null value

    - #### getShortClassName

          public static String getShortClassName(Class<?> cls)

      Gets the class name minus the package name from a `Class`.

      Consider using the Java 5 API `Class.getSimpleName()` instead. The one known difference is that this code will return `"Map.Entry"` while the `java.lang.Class` variant will simply return `"Entry"`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to get the short name for.
      Returns:
        the class name without the package name or an empty string

    - #### getShortClassName

          public static String getShortClassName(String className)

      Gets the class name minus the package name from a String.

      The string passed in is assumed to be a class name - it is not checked.

      Note that this method differs from Class.getSimpleName() in that this will return `"Map.Entry"` whilst the `java.lang.Class` variant will simply return `"Entry"`.

      Parameters:
        `className` - the className to get the short name for
      Returns:
        the class name of the class without the package name or an empty string

    - #### getSimpleName

          public static String getSimpleName(Class<?> cls)

      Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the simple name; may be null
      Returns:
        the simple class name.
      Since:
        3.0
      See Also:
        `Class.getSimpleName()`

    - #### getSimpleName

          public static String getSimpleName(Class<?> cls,
                             String valueIfNull)

      Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the simple name; may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if null
      Returns:
        the simple class name or `valueIfNull`
      Since:
        3.0
      See Also:
        `Class.getSimpleName()`

    - #### getSimpleName

          public static String getSimpleName(Object object)

      Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`

      Parameters:
        `object` - the object for which to get the simple class name; may be null
      Returns:
        the simple class name or the empty String
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getSimpleName()`

    - #### getSimpleName

          public static String getSimpleName(Object object,
                             String valueIfNull)

      Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`

      Parameters:
        `object` - the object for which to get the simple class name; may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if `object` is `null`
      Returns:
        the simple class name or `valueIfNull`
      Since:
        3.0
      See Also:
        `Class.getSimpleName()`

    - #### getName

          public static String getName(Class<?> cls)

      Null-safe version of `Class.getName()`

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the class name; may be null
      Returns:
        the class name or the empty String.
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getSimpleName()`

    - #### getName

          public static String getName(Class<?> cls,
                       String valueIfNull)

      Null-safe version of `aClass.getName()`

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the class name; may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the return value if `cls` is `null`
      Returns:
        the class name or `valueIfNull`
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getName()`

    - #### getName

          public static String getName(Object object)

      Null-safe version of `Class.getName()`

      Parameters:
        `object` - the object for which to get the class name; may be null
      Returns:
        the class name or the empty String
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getSimpleName()`

    - #### getName

          public static String getName(Object object,
                       String valueIfNull)

      Null-safe version of `aClass.getSimpleName()`

      Parameters:
        `object` - the object for which to get the class name; may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if `object` is `null`
      Returns:
        the class name or `valueIfNull`
      Since:
        3.0
      See Also:
        `Class.getName()`

    - #### getPackageName

          public static String getPackageName(Object object,
                              String valueIfNull)

      Gets the package name of an `Object`.

      Parameters:
        `object` - the class to get the package name for, may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if null
      Returns:
        the package name of the object, or the null value

    - #### getPackageName

          public static String getPackageName(Class<?> cls)

      Gets the package name of a `Class`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to get the package name for, may be `null`.
      Returns:
        the package name or an empty string

    - #### getPackageName

          public static String getPackageName(String className)

      Gets the package name from a `String`.

      The string passed in is assumed to be a class name - it is not checked.

      If the class is unpackaged, return an empty string.

      Parameters:
        `className` - the className to get the package name for, may be `null`
      Returns:
        the package name or an empty string

    - #### getAbbreviatedName

          public static String getAbbreviatedName(Class<?> cls,
                                  int len)

      Gets the abbreviated name of a `Class`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to get the abbreviated name for, may be `null`
        `len` - the desired length of the abbreviated name
      Returns:
        the abbreviated name or an empty string
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if len <= 0
      Since:
        3.4
      See Also:
        `getAbbreviatedName(String, int)`

    - #### getAbbreviatedName

          public static String getAbbreviatedName(String className,
                                  int len)

      Gets the abbreviated class name from a `String`.

      The string passed in is assumed to be a class name - it is not checked.

      The abbreviation algorithm will shorten the class name, usually without significant loss of meaning.

      The abbreviated class name will always include the complete package hierarchy. If enough space is available, rightmost sub-packages will be displayed in full length.

      The following table illustrates the algorithm:

      className | len | return
      null | 1 | ""
      "java.lang.String" | 5 | "j.l.String"
      "java.lang.String" | 15 | "j.lang.String"
      "java.lang.String" | 30 | "java.lang.String"

      Parameters:
        `className` - the className to get the abbreviated name for, may be `null`
        `len` - the desired length of the abbreviated name
      Returns:
        the abbreviated name or an empty string
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if len <= 0
      Since:
        3.4

    - #### getAllSuperclasses

          public static List<Class<?>> getAllSuperclasses(Class<?> cls)

      Gets a `List` of superclasses for the given class.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to look up, may be `null`
      Returns:
        the `List` of superclasses in order going up from this one `null` if null input

    - #### getAllInterfaces

          public static List<Class<?>> getAllInterfaces(Class<?> cls)

      Gets a `List` of all interfaces implemented by the given class and its superclasses.

      The order is determined by looking through each interface in turn as declared in the source file and following its hierarchy up. Then each superclass is considered in the same way. Later duplicates are ignored, so the order is maintained.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to look up, may be `null`
      Returns:
        the `List` of interfaces in order, `null` if null input

    - #### convertClassNamesToClasses

          public static List<Class<?>> convertClassNamesToClasses(List<String> classNames)

      Given a `List` of class names, this method converts them into classes.

      A new `List` is returned. If the class name cannot be found, `null` is stored in the `List`. If the class name in the `List` is `null`, `null` is stored in the output `List`.

      Parameters:
        `classNames` - the classNames to change
      Returns:
        a `List` of Class objects corresponding to the class names, `null` if null input
      Throws:
        `ClassCastException` - if classNames contains a non String entry

    - #### convertClassesToClassNames

          public static List<String> convertClassesToClassNames(List<Class<?>> classes)

      Given a `List` of `Class` objects, this method converts them into class names.

      A new `List` is returned. `null` objects will be copied into the returned list as `null`.

      Parameters:
        `classes` - the classes to change
      Returns:
        a `List` of class names corresponding to the Class objects, `null` if null input
      Throws:
        `ClassCastException` - if `classes` contains a non-`Class` entry

    - #### isAssignable

          public static boolean isAssignable(Class<?>[] classArray,
                             Class<?>... toClassArray)

      Checks if an array of Classes can be assigned to another array of Classes.

      This method calls `isAssignable` for each Class pair in the input arrays. It can be used to check if a set of arguments (the first parameter) are suitably compatible with a set of method parameter types (the second parameter).

      Unlike the `Class.isAssignableFrom(java.lang.Class)` method, this method takes into account widenings of primitive classes and `null`s.

      Primitive widenings allow an int to be assigned to a `long`, `float` or `double`. This method returns the correct result for these cases.

      `Null` may be assigned to any reference type. This method will return `true` if `null` is passed in and the toClass is non-primitive.

      Specifically, this method tests whether the type represented by the specified `Class` parameter can be converted to the type represented by this `Class` object via an identity conversion widening primitive or widening reference conversion. See The Java Language Specification, sections 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and 5.1.4 for details.

      Since Lang 3.0, this method will default behavior for calculating assignability between primitive and wrapper types corresponding to the running Java version; i.e. autoboxing will be the default behavior in VMs running Java versions > 1.5.

      Parameters:
        `classArray` - the array of Classes to check, may be `null`
        `toClassArray` - the array of Classes to try to assign into, may be `null`
      Returns:
        `true` if assignment possible

    - #### isAssignable

          public static boolean isAssignable(Class<?>[] classArray,
                             Class<?>[] toClassArray,
                             boolean autoboxing)

      Checks if an array of Classes can be assigned to another array of Classes.

      This method calls `isAssignable` for each Class pair in the input arrays. It can be used to check if a set of arguments (the first parameter) are suitably compatible with a set of method parameter types (the second parameter).

      Unlike the `Class.isAssignableFrom(java.lang.Class)` method, this method takes into account widenings of primitive classes and `null`s.

      Primitive widenings allow an int to be assigned to a `long`, `float` or `double`. This method returns the correct result for these cases.

      `Null` may be assigned to any reference type. This method will return `true` if `null` is passed in and the toClass is non-primitive.

      Specifically, this method tests whether the type represented by the specified `Class` parameter can be converted to the type represented by this `Class` object via an identity conversion widening primitive or widening reference conversion. See The Java Language Specification, sections 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and 5.1.4 for details.

      Parameters:
        `classArray` - the array of Classes to check, may be `null`
        `toClassArray` - the array of Classes to try to assign into, may be `null`
        `autoboxing` - whether to use implicit autoboxing/unboxing between primitives and wrappers
      Returns:
        `true` if assignment possible

    - #### isPrimitiveOrWrapper

          public static boolean isPrimitiveOrWrapper(Class<?> type)

      Returns whether the given `type` is a primitive or primitive wrapper (`Boolean`, `Byte`, `Character`, `Short`, `Integer`, `Long`, `Double`, `Float`).
      Parameters:
        `type` - The class to query or null.
      Returns:
        true if the given `type` is a primitive or primitive wrapper (`Boolean`, `Byte`, `Character`, `Short`, `Integer`, `Long`, `Double`, `Float`).
      Since:
        3.1

    - #### isPrimitiveWrapper

          public static boolean isPrimitiveWrapper(Class<?> type)

      Returns whether the given `type` is a primitive wrapper (`Boolean`, `Byte`, `Character`, `Short`, `Integer`, `Long`, `Double`, `Float`).
      Parameters:
        `type` - The class to query or null.
      Returns:
        true if the given `type` is a primitive wrapper (`Boolean`, `Byte`, `Character`, `Short`, `Integer`, `Long`, `Double`, `Float`).
      Since:
        3.1

    - #### isAssignable

          public static boolean isAssignable(Class<?> cls,
                             Class<?> toClass)

      Checks if one `Class` can be assigned to a variable of another `Class`.

      Unlike the `Class.isAssignableFrom(java.lang.Class)` method, this method takes into account widenings of primitive classes and `null`s.

      Primitive widenings allow an int to be assigned to a long, float or double. This method returns the correct result for these cases.

      `Null` may be assigned to any reference type. This method will return `true` if `null` is passed in and the toClass is non-primitive.

      Specifically, this method tests whether the type represented by the specified `Class` parameter can be converted to the type represented by this `Class` object via an identity conversion widening primitive or widening reference conversion. See The Java Language Specification, sections 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and 5.1.4 for details.

      Since Lang 3.0, this method will default behavior for calculating assignability between primitive and wrapper types corresponding to the running Java version; i.e. autoboxing will be the default behavior in VMs running Java versions > 1.5.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the Class to check, may be null
        `toClass` - the Class to try to assign into, returns false if null
      Returns:
        `true` if assignment possible

    - #### isAssignable

          public static boolean isAssignable(Class<?> cls,
                             Class<?> toClass,
                             boolean autoboxing)

      Checks if one `Class` can be assigned to a variable of another `Class`.

      Unlike the `Class.isAssignableFrom(java.lang.Class)` method, this method takes into account widenings of primitive classes and `null`s.

      Primitive widenings allow an int to be assigned to a long, float or double. This method returns the correct result for these cases.

      `Null` may be assigned to any reference type. This method will return `true` if `null` is passed in and the toClass is non-primitive.

      Specifically, this method tests whether the type represented by the specified `Class` parameter can be converted to the type represented by this `Class` object via an identity conversion widening primitive or widening reference conversion. See The Java Language Specification, sections 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and 5.1.4 for details.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the Class to check, may be null
        `toClass` - the Class to try to assign into, returns false if null
        `autoboxing` - whether to use implicit autoboxing/unboxing between primitives and wrappers
      Returns:
        `true` if assignment possible

    - #### primitiveToWrapper

          public static Class<?> primitiveToWrapper(Class<?> cls)

      Converts the specified primitive Class object to its corresponding wrapper Class object.

      NOTE: From v2.2, this method handles `Void.TYPE`, returning `Void.TYPE`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to convert, may be null
      Returns:
        the wrapper class for `cls` or `cls` if `cls` is not a primitive. `null` if null input.
      Since:
        2.1

    - #### primitivesToWrappers

          public static Class<?>[] primitivesToWrappers(Class<?>... classes)

      Converts the specified array of primitive Class objects to an array of its corresponding wrapper Class objects.

      Parameters:
        `classes` - the class array to convert, may be null or empty
      Returns:
        an array which contains for each given class, the wrapper class or the original class if class is not a primitive. `null` if null input. Empty array if an empty array passed in.
      Since:
        2.1

    - #### wrapperToPrimitive

          public static Class<?> wrapperToPrimitive(Class<?> cls)

      Converts the specified wrapper class to its corresponding primitive class.

      This method is the counter part of `primitiveToWrapper()`. If the passed in class is a wrapper class for a primitive type, this primitive type will be returned (e.g. `Integer.TYPE` for `Integer.class`). For other classes, or if the parameter is null, the return value is null.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to convert, may be null
      Returns:
        the corresponding primitive type if `cls` is a wrapper class, null otherwise
      Since:
        2.4
      See Also:
        `primitiveToWrapper(Class)`

    - #### wrappersToPrimitives

          public static Class<?>[] wrappersToPrimitives(Class<?>... classes)

      Converts the specified array of wrapper Class objects to an array of its corresponding primitive Class objects.

      This method invokes `wrapperToPrimitive()` for each element of the passed in array.

      Parameters:
        `classes` - the class array to convert, may be null or empty
      Returns:
        an array which contains for each given class, the primitive class or null if the original class is not a wrapper class. `null` if null input. Empty array if an empty array passed in.
      Since:
        2.4
      See Also:
        `wrapperToPrimitive(Class)`

    - #### isInnerClass

          public static boolean isInnerClass(Class<?> cls)

      Is the specified class an inner class or static nested class.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to check, may be null
      Returns:
        `true` if the class is an inner or static nested class, false if not or `null`

    - #### getClass

          public static Class<?> getClass(ClassLoader classLoader,
                          String className,
                          boolean initialize)
                                   throws ClassNotFoundException

      Returns the class represented by `className` using the `classLoader`. This implementation supports the syntaxes "`java.util.Map.Entry[]`", "`java.util.Map$Entry[]`", "`[Ljava.util.Map.Entry;`", and "`[Ljava.util.Map$Entry;`".
      Parameters:
        `classLoader` - the class loader to use to load the class
        `className` - the class name
        `initialize` - whether the class must be initialized
      Returns:
        the class represented by `className` using the `classLoader`
      Throws:
        `ClassNotFoundException` - if the class is not found

    - #### getClass

          public static Class<?> getClass(ClassLoader classLoader,
                          String className)
                                   throws ClassNotFoundException

      Returns the (initialized) class represented by `className` using the `classLoader`. This implementation supports the syntaxes "`java.util.Map.Entry[]`", "`java.util.Map$Entry[]`", "`[Ljava.util.Map.Entry;`", and "`[Ljava.util.Map$Entry;`".
      Parameters:
        `classLoader` - the class loader to use to load the class
        `className` - the class name
      Returns:
        the class represented by `className` using the `classLoader`
      Throws:
        `ClassNotFoundException` - if the class is not found

    - #### getClass

          public static Class<?> getClass(String className)
                                   throws ClassNotFoundException

      Returns the (initialized) class represented by `className` using the current thread's context class loader. This implementation supports the syntaxes "`java.util.Map.Entry[]`", "`java.util.Map$Entry[]`", "`[Ljava.util.Map.Entry;`", and "`[Ljava.util.Map$Entry;`".
      Parameters:
        `className` - the class name
      Returns:
        the class represented by `className` using the current thread's context class loader
      Throws:
        `ClassNotFoundException` - if the class is not found

    - #### getClass

          public static Class<?> getClass(String className,
                          boolean initialize)
                                   throws ClassNotFoundException

      Returns the class represented by `className` using the current thread's context class loader. This implementation supports the syntaxes "`java.util.Map.Entry[]`", "`java.util.Map$Entry[]`", "`[Ljava.util.Map.Entry;`", and "`[Ljava.util.Map$Entry;`".
      Parameters:
        `className` - the class name
        `initialize` - whether the class must be initialized
      Returns:
        the class represented by `className` using the current thread's context class loader
      Throws:
        `ClassNotFoundException` - if the class is not found

    - #### getPublicMethod

          public static Method getPublicMethod(Class<?> cls,
                               String methodName,
                               Class<?>... parameterTypes)
                                        throws SecurityException,
                                               NoSuchMethodException

      Returns the desired Method much like `Class.getMethod`, however it ensures that the returned Method is from a public class or interface and not from an anonymous inner class. This means that the Method is invokable and doesn't fall foul of Java bug 4071957).

            Set set = Collections.unmodifiableSet(...);
            Method method = ClassUtils.getPublicMethod(set.getClass(), "isEmpty",  new Class[0]);
            Object result = method.invoke(set, new Object[]);

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to check, not null
        `methodName` - the name of the method
        `parameterTypes` - the list of parameters
      Returns:
        the method
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if the class is null
        `SecurityException` - if a security violation occurred
        `NoSuchMethodException` - if the method is not found in the given class or if the method doesn't conform with the requirements

    - #### toClass

          public static Class<?>[] toClass(Object... array)

      Converts an array of `Object` in to an array of `Class` objects. If any of these objects is null, a null element will be inserted into the array.

      This method returns `null` for a `null` input array.

      Parameters:
        `array` - an `Object` array
      Returns:
        a `Class` array, `null` if null array input
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### getShortCanonicalName

          public static String getShortCanonicalName(Object object,
                                     String valueIfNull)

      Gets the canonical name minus the package name for an `Object`.

      Parameters:
        `object` - the class to get the short name for, may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if null
      Returns:
        the canonical name of the object without the package name, or the null value
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### getCanonicalName

          public static String getCanonicalName(Class<?> cls)

      Gets the canonical class name for a `Class`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the canonical class name; may be null
      Returns:
        the canonical name of the class, or the empty String
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getCanonicalName()`

    - #### getCanonicalName

          public static String getCanonicalName(Class<?> cls,
                                String valueIfNull)

      Gets the canonical name for a `Class`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the canonical class name; may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the return value if null
      Returns:
        the canonical name of the class, or `valueIfNull`
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getCanonicalName()`

    - #### getCanonicalName

          public static String getCanonicalName(Object object)

      Gets the canonical name for an `Object`.

      Parameters:
        `object` - the object for which to get the canonical class name; may be null
      Returns:
        the canonical name of the object, or the empty String
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getCanonicalName()`

    - #### getCanonicalName

          public static String getCanonicalName(Object object,
                                String valueIfNull)

      Gets the canonical name for an `Object`.

      Parameters:
        `object` - the object for which to get the canonical class name; may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the return value if null
      Returns:
        the canonical name of the object or `valueIfNull`
      Since:
        3.7
      See Also:
        `Class.getCanonicalName()`

    - #### getShortCanonicalName

          public static String getShortCanonicalName(Class<?> cls)

      Gets the canonical name minus the package name from a `Class`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class for which to get the short canonical class name; may be null
      Returns:
        the canonical name without the package name or an empty string
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### getShortCanonicalName

          public static String getShortCanonicalName(String canonicalName)

      Gets the canonical name minus the package name from a String.

      The string passed in is assumed to be a canonical name - it is not checked.

      Parameters:
        `canonicalName` - the class name to get the short name for
      Returns:
        the canonical name of the class without the package name or an empty string
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### getPackageCanonicalName

          public static String getPackageCanonicalName(Object object,
                                       String valueIfNull)

      Gets the package name from the canonical name of an `Object`.

      Parameters:
        `object` - the class to get the package name for, may be null
        `valueIfNull` - the value to return if null
      Returns:
        the package name of the object, or the null value
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### getPackageCanonicalName

          public static String getPackageCanonicalName(Class<?> cls)

      Gets the package name from the canonical name of a `Class`.

      Parameters:
        `cls` - the class to get the package name for, may be `null`.
      Returns:
        the package name or an empty string
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### getPackageCanonicalName

          public static String getPackageCanonicalName(String canonicalName)

      Gets the package name from the canonical name.

      The string passed in is assumed to be a canonical name - it is not checked.

      If the class is unpackaged, return an empty string.

      Parameters:
        `canonicalName` - the canonical name to get the package name for, may be `null`
      Returns:
        the package name or an empty string
      Since:
        2.4

    - #### hierarchy

          public static Iterable<Class<?>> hierarchy(Class<?> type)

      Get an `Iterable` that can iterate over a class hierarchy in ascending (subclass to superclass) order, excluding interfaces.
      Parameters:
        `type` - the type to get the class hierarchy from
      Returns:
        Iterable an Iterable over the class hierarchy of the given class
      Since:
        3.2

    - #### hierarchy

          public static Iterable<Class<?>> hierarchy(Class<?> type,
                                     ClassUtils.Interfaces interfacesBehavior)

      Get an `Iterable` that can iterate over a class hierarchy in ascending (subclass to superclass) order.
      Parameters:
        `type` - the type to get the class hierarchy from
        `interfacesBehavior` - switch indicating whether to include or exclude interfaces
      Returns:
        Iterable an Iterable over the class hierarchy of the given class
      Since:
        3.2

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