Calling a method in Java using reflection, and obtaining the return value

Question

I want to call a method using reflection.

The method is:

public String format(String text,int value)
{
    return text+" "+value; 
}

So, it has 2 arguments: a String and an int. And it returns a String. How can I call it?

Well, how far have you got so far? Have you managed to find the method using reflection? Have you tried invoking it? What happened? — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 13:04
I tried to do something but I have a problem to continue public String format(String text,int value){ return text+" "+value; } — david-bonheur
– david-bonheur, Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 13:04
Well put what you've got so far into your question, and tell us where you're stuck. Read docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/reflect/member/… or a similar tutorial if you're stuck right at the very start. — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Mar 3, 2015 at 13:06
yes, now i can say good with this url docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/reflect/member/… , thank you — david-bonheur
– david-bonheur, Commented Mar 5, 2015 at 16:26

WeMakeSoftware · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-06 09:09:34Z

1

    try {
        Class<?> type = Foo.class;
        Method method = type.getMethod("format", String.class, int.class);
        //as the method is not static, you need to have an instance of the class to be able to invoke the method
        Foo instance = new Foo();
        String string = (String) method.invoke(instance, "string", 42);
    } catch (Exception toBeHandled) {}

and replace the Foo with the name of your class

edited Mar 6, 2015 at 9:09

answered Mar 6, 2015 at 9:03

WeMakeSoftware

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1 Comment

WeMakeSoftware Over a year ago

@aaron-digulla , nope you need an instance of the class to invoke a method as it's not static. That's why I had created an instance of the class

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