Executable (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.lang.reflect.Executable class
Date: 2026-08-19

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.lang.reflect

## Class Executable

- java.lang.Object
- - java.lang.reflect.AccessibleObject
  - - java.lang.reflect.Executable

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    AnnotatedElement, GenericDeclaration, Member
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    Constructor, Method

      public abstract class Executable
      extends AccessibleObject
      implements Member, GenericDeclaration

  A shared superclass for the common functionality of `Method` and `Constructor`.
  Since:
    1.8

- - ### Field Summary

    - ### Fields inherited from interface java.lang.reflect.Member

      `DECLARED, PUBLIC`

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `AnnotatedType[]` | `getAnnotatedExceptionTypes()` Returns an array of `AnnotatedType` objects that represent the use of types to specify the declared exceptions of the method/constructor represented by this Executable.
    `AnnotatedType[]` | `getAnnotatedParameterTypes()` Returns an array of `AnnotatedType` objects that represent the use of types to specify formal parameter types of the method/constructor represented by this Executable.
    `AnnotatedType` | `getAnnotatedReceiverType()` Returns an `AnnotatedType` object that represents the use of a type to specify the receiver type of the method/constructor represented by this Executable object.
    `abstract AnnotatedType` | `getAnnotatedReturnType()` Returns an `AnnotatedType` object that represents the use of a type to specify the return type of the method/constructor represented by this Executable.
    `<T extends Annotation> T` | `getAnnotation(Class<T> annotationClass)` Returns this element's annotation for the specified type if such an annotation is present, else null.
    `<T extends Annotation> T[]` | `getAnnotationsByType(Class<T> annotationClass)` Returns annotations that are associated with this element.
    `Annotation[]` | `getDeclaredAnnotations()` Returns annotations that are directly present on this element.
    `abstract Class<?>` | `getDeclaringClass()` Returns the `Class` object representing the class or interface that declares the executable represented by this object.
    `abstract Class<?>[]` | `getExceptionTypes()` Returns an array of `Class` objects that represent the types of exceptions declared to be thrown by the underlying executable represented by this object.
    `Type[]` | `getGenericExceptionTypes()` Returns an array of `Type` objects that represent the exceptions declared to be thrown by this executable object.
    `Type[]` | `getGenericParameterTypes()` Returns an array of `Type` objects that represent the formal parameter types, in declaration order, of the executable represented by this object.
    `abstract int` | `getModifiers()` Returns the Java language modifiers for the executable represented by this object.
    `abstract String` | `getName()` Returns the name of the executable represented by this object.
    `abstract Annotation[][]` | `getParameterAnnotations()` Returns an array of arrays of `Annotation`s that represent the annotations on the formal parameters, in declaration order, of the `Executable` represented by this object.
    `int` | `getParameterCount()` Returns the number of formal parameters (whether explicitly declared or implicitly declared or neither) for the executable represented by this object.
    `Parameter[]` | `getParameters()` Returns an array of `Parameter` objects that represent all the parameters to the underlying executable represented by this object.
    `abstract Class<?>[]` | `getParameterTypes()` Returns an array of `Class` objects that represent the formal parameter types, in declaration order, of the executable represented by this object.
    `abstract TypeVariable<?>[]` | `getTypeParameters()` Returns an array of `TypeVariable` objects that represent the type variables declared by the generic declaration represented by this `GenericDeclaration` object, in declaration order.
    `boolean` | `isSynthetic()` Returns `true` if this executable is a synthetic construct; returns `false` otherwise.
    `boolean` | `isVarArgs()` Returns `true` if this executable was declared to take a variable number of arguments; returns `false` otherwise.
    `abstract String` | `toGenericString()` Returns a string describing this `Executable`, including any type parameters.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.reflect.AccessibleObject

      `getAnnotations, getDeclaredAnnotation, getDeclaredAnnotationsByType, isAccessible, isAnnotationPresent, setAccessible, setAccessible`

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

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

    - ### Methods inherited from interface java.lang.reflect.AnnotatedElement

      `getAnnotations, getDeclaredAnnotation, getDeclaredAnnotationsByType, isAnnotationPresent`

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### getDeclaringClass

          public abstract Class<?> getDeclaringClass()

      Returns the `Class` object representing the class or interface that declares the executable represented by this object.
      Specified by:
        `getDeclaringClass` in interface `Member`
      Returns:
        an object representing the declaring class of the underlying member

    - #### getName

          public abstract String getName()

      Returns the name of the executable represented by this object.
      Specified by:
        `getName` in interface `Member`
      Returns:
        the simple name of the underlying member

    - #### getModifiers

          public abstract int getModifiers()

      Returns the Java language modifiers for the executable represented by this object.
      Specified by:
        `getModifiers` in interface `Member`
      Returns:
        the Java language modifiers for the underlying member
      See Also:
        `Modifier`

    - #### getTypeParameters

          public abstract TypeVariable<?>[] getTypeParameters()

      Returns an array of `TypeVariable` objects that represent the type variables declared by the generic declaration represented by this `GenericDeclaration` object, in declaration order. Returns an array of length 0 if the underlying generic declaration declares no type variables.
      Specified by:
        `getTypeParameters` in interface `GenericDeclaration`
      Returns:
        an array of `TypeVariable` objects that represent the type variables declared by this generic declaration
      Throws:
        `GenericSignatureFormatError` - if the generic signature of this generic declaration does not conform to the format specified in The Java™ Virtual Machine Specification

    - #### getParameterTypes

          public abstract Class<?>[] getParameterTypes()

      Returns an array of `Class` objects that represent the formal parameter types, in declaration order, of the executable represented by this object. Returns an array of length 0 if the underlying executable takes no parameters.
      Returns:
        the parameter types for the executable this object represents

    - #### getParameterCount

          public int getParameterCount()

      Returns the number of formal parameters (whether explicitly declared or implicitly declared or neither) for the executable represented by this object.
      Returns:
        The number of formal parameters for the executable this object represents

    - #### getGenericParameterTypes

          public Type[] getGenericParameterTypes()

      Returns an array of `Type` objects that represent the formal parameter types, in declaration order, of the executable represented by this object. Returns an array of length 0 if the underlying executable takes no parameters.

      If a formal parameter type is a parameterized type, the `Type` object returned for it must accurately reflect the actual type parameters used in the source code.

      If a formal parameter type is a type variable or a parameterized type, it is created. Otherwise, it is resolved.

      Returns:
        an array of `Type`s that represent the formal parameter types of the underlying executable, in declaration order
      Throws:
        `GenericSignatureFormatError` - if the generic method signature does not conform to the format specified in The Java™ Virtual Machine Specification
        `TypeNotPresentException` - if any of the parameter types of the underlying executable refers to a non-existent type declaration
        `MalformedParameterizedTypeException` - if any of the underlying executable's parameter types refer to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated for any reason

    - #### getParameters

          public Parameter[] getParameters()

      Returns an array of `Parameter` objects that represent all the parameters to the underlying executable represented by this object. Returns an array of length 0 if the executable has no parameters.

      The parameters of the underlying executable do not necessarily have unique names, or names that are legal identifiers in the Java programming language (JLS 3.8).

      Returns:
        an array of `Parameter` objects representing all the parameters to the executable this object represents.
      Throws:
        `MalformedParametersException` - if the class file contains a MethodParameters attribute that is improperly formatted.

    - #### getExceptionTypes

          public abstract Class<?>[] getExceptionTypes()

      Returns an array of `Class` objects that represent the types of exceptions declared to be thrown by the underlying executable represented by this object. Returns an array of length 0 if the executable declares no exceptions in its `throws` clause.
      Returns:
        the exception types declared as being thrown by the executable this object represents

    - #### getGenericExceptionTypes

          public Type[] getGenericExceptionTypes()

      Returns an array of `Type` objects that represent the exceptions declared to be thrown by this executable object. Returns an array of length 0 if the underlying executable declares no exceptions in its `throws` clause.

      If an exception type is a type variable or a parameterized type, it is created. Otherwise, it is resolved.

      Returns:
        an array of Types that represent the exception types thrown by the underlying executable
      Throws:
        `GenericSignatureFormatError` - if the generic method signature does not conform to the format specified in The Java™ Virtual Machine Specification
        `TypeNotPresentException` - if the underlying executable's `throws` clause refers to a non-existent type declaration
        `MalformedParameterizedTypeException` - if the underlying executable's `throws` clause refers to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated for any reason

    - #### toGenericString

          public abstract String toGenericString()

      Returns a string describing this `Executable`, including any type parameters.
      Returns:
        a string describing this `Executable`, including any type parameters

    - #### isVarArgs

          public boolean isVarArgs()

      Returns `true` if this executable was declared to take a variable number of arguments; returns `false` otherwise.
      Returns:
        `true` if an only if this executable was declared to take a variable number of arguments.

    - #### isSynthetic

          public boolean isSynthetic()

      Returns `true` if this executable is a synthetic construct; returns `false` otherwise.
      Specified by:
        `isSynthetic` in interface `Member`
      Returns:
        true if and only if this executable is a synthetic construct as defined by The Java™ Language Specification.
      See The Java™ Language Specification:
        13.1 The Form of a Binary

    - #### getParameterAnnotations

          public abstract Annotation[][] getParameterAnnotations()

      Returns an array of arrays of `Annotation`s that represent the annotations on the formal parameters, in declaration order, of the `Executable` represented by this object. Synthetic and mandated parameters (see explanation below), such as the outer "this" parameter to an inner class constructor will be represented in the returned array. If the executable has no parameters (meaning no formal, no synthetic, and no mandated parameters), a zero-length array will be returned. If the `Executable` has one or more parameters, a nested array of length zero is returned for each parameter with no annotations. The annotation objects contained in the returned arrays are serializable. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned arrays; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers. A compiler may add extra parameters that are implicitly declared in source ("mandated"), as well as parameters that are neither implicitly nor explicitly declared in source ("synthetic") to the parameter list for a method. See `Parameter` for more information.
      Returns:
        an array of arrays that represent the annotations on the formal and implicit parameters, in declaration order, of the executable represented by this object
      See Also:
        `Parameter`, `Parameter.getAnnotations()`

    - #### getAnnotation

          public <T extends Annotation> T getAnnotation(Class<T> annotationClass)

      Returns this element's annotation for the specified type if such an annotation is present, else null.
      Specified by:
        `getAnnotation` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
      Overrides:
        `getAnnotation` in class `AccessibleObject`
      Type Parameters:
        `T` - the type of the annotation to query for and return if present
      Parameters:
        `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
      Returns:
        this element's annotation for the specified annotation type if present on this element, else null
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if the given annotation class is null

    - #### getAnnotationsByType

          public <T extends Annotation> T[] getAnnotationsByType(Class<T> annotationClass)

      Returns annotations that are associated with this element. If there are no annotations associated with this element, the return value is an array of length 0. The difference between this method and `AnnotatedElement.getAnnotation(Class)` is that this method detects if its argument is a repeatable annotation type (JLS 9.6), and if so, attempts to find one or more annotations of that type by "looking through" a container annotation. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned array; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers.
      Specified by:
        `getAnnotationsByType` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
      Overrides:
        `getAnnotationsByType` in class `AccessibleObject`
      Type Parameters:
        `T` - the type of the annotation to query for and return if present
      Parameters:
        `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
      Returns:
        all this element's annotations for the specified annotation type if associated with this element, else an array of length zero
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if the given annotation class is null

    - #### getDeclaredAnnotations

          public Annotation[] getDeclaredAnnotations()

      Returns annotations that are directly present on this element. This method ignores inherited annotations. If there are no annotations directly present on this element, the return value is an array of length 0. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned array; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers.
      Specified by:
        `getDeclaredAnnotations` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
      Overrides:
        `getDeclaredAnnotations` in class `AccessibleObject`
      Returns:
        annotations directly present on this element

    - #### getAnnotatedReturnType

          public abstract AnnotatedType getAnnotatedReturnType()

      Returns an `AnnotatedType` object that represents the use of a type to specify the return type of the method/constructor represented by this Executable. If this `Executable` object represents a constructor, the `AnnotatedType` object represents the type of the constructed object. If this `Executable` object represents a method, the `AnnotatedType` object represents the use of a type to specify the return type of the method.
      Returns:
        an object representing the return type of the method or constructor represented by this `Executable`

    - #### getAnnotatedReceiverType

          public AnnotatedType getAnnotatedReceiverType()

      Returns an `AnnotatedType` object that represents the use of a type to specify the receiver type of the method/constructor represented by this Executable object. The receiver type of a method/constructor is available only if the method/constructor has a receiver parameter (JLS 8.4.1). If this `Executable` object represents a constructor or instance method that does not have a receiver parameter, or has a receiver parameter with no annotations on its type, then the return value is an `AnnotatedType` object representing an element with no annotations. If this `Executable` object represents a static method, then the return value is null.
      Returns:
        an object representing the receiver type of the method or constructor represented by this `Executable`

    - #### getAnnotatedParameterTypes

          public AnnotatedType[] getAnnotatedParameterTypes()

      Returns an array of `AnnotatedType` objects that represent the use of types to specify formal parameter types of the method/constructor represented by this Executable. The order of the objects in the array corresponds to the order of the formal parameter types in the declaration of the method/constructor. Returns an array of length 0 if the method/constructor declares no parameters.
      Returns:
        an array of objects representing the types of the formal parameters of the method or constructor represented by this `Executable`

    - #### getAnnotatedExceptionTypes

          public AnnotatedType[] getAnnotatedExceptionTypes()

      Returns an array of `AnnotatedType` objects that represent the use of types to specify the declared exceptions of the method/constructor represented by this Executable. The order of the objects in the array corresponds to the order of the exception types in the declaration of the method/constructor. Returns an array of length 0 if the method/constructor declares no exceptions.
      Returns:
        an array of objects representing the declared exceptions of the method or constructor represented by this `Executable`

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