Listing all the subclasses of a specific class in Java

+2 votes

How do I list down all the subclasses of a specific class or all the implementers of a specific interface in Java? Using Eclipse, I am able to do so but I want to know how to perform this programmatically? If you have any suggestions, please do put them.

Jun 8, 2018 in Java by code.reaper12
• 3,500 points
14,383 views

3 answers to this question.

+1 vote

There is a simple library available for this purpose: org.reflections

This will scan your classpath, index the metadata, allow you to query it on runtime and may save and collect that information for many modules within your project.

Using Reflections you can query your metadata such as:

  • get all subtypes of some type

  • get all types/constructors/methods/fields annotated with some annotation, optionally with annotation parameters matching

  • get all resources matching a regular expression

  • get all methods with specific signature including parameters, parameter annotations, and return type

  • get all methods parameter names

  • get all fields/methods/constructors usages in code

You just need to call the following to fulfill your task:

reflections.getSubTypesOf(aClazz))

Hope this helps!!

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Thank you

answered Jun 8, 2018 by geek.erkami
• 2,680 points
+1 vote

This is not possible to do using only the built-in Java Reflections API.

A project exists that does the necessary scanning and indexing of your classpath so you can get access this information...

Reflections

A Java runtime metadata analysis, in the spirit of Scannotations

Reflections scans your classpath, indexes the metadata, allows you to query it on runtime and may save and collect that information for many modules within your project.

Using Reflections you can query your metadata for:

· get all subtypes of some type

· get all types annotated with some annotation

· get all types annotated with some annotation, including annotation parameters matching

· get all methods annotated with some

Source : Stackoverflow

answered Aug 21, 2019 by Sirajul
• 59,230 points
+3 votes

Try with BurningWave core library. Here an example that solves your question:

https://github.com/burningwave/core/wiki/Finding-all-classes-that-extend-a-base-class
 

answered Dec 29, 2019 by anonymous
• 460 points

edited Jan 9, 2020 by anonymous

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