Java Reflection

What is Java Reflection ?

Reflection makes program examining itself at run time and change its behavior, structure or data of program based upon the result of the examination.

Three Steps of Reflection :

1. Examine the program of its structure or data.

2. Make decisions using the results of examination.

3. Change the behavior, structure or data of the program  based upon the decisions.

A small Example 

 public class HelloWorld{

public void printName(){

System.out.println(this.getClass().printName());

}

}

Related Concept

1. introspect : the process program to examine itself

2. base-level object : the objects that are used to accomplish the main purpose of the application

3. metaobjects : the object of Class which represent base-level object 

Here is a diagram to represent the relationship of base-level and metaobjects: