reflection - Java dynamic function calling

Question

I have a String array that contains names of method in the yyyyyy class

In the xxxxxx class I'm making a yyyyyy instance (say obj). Now I can call obj.function_name(), except I want to read function_name from the String array in a loop. Is this possible?

Answer 1

You can, using reflection. It is done by calling Yyyy.class.getMethod("methodName").invoke(someArgs)

You'd have to handle a bunch of exceptions, and your method must be public. Note that java coding conventions prefer methodName to method_name.

Using reflection, however, should be a last resort. You should be using more object-oriented techniques.

If you constantly need similar features, perhaps you can look at some dynamic language running on the java platform, like Groovy