The reflection mechanism in Java plays a core role in metaprogramming. It uses Class.forName() to load classes, getMethod() to get method objects, and invoke() to dynamically call methods to achieve dynamic execution operations; uses JDK dynamic proxy and CGLIB to generate proxy classes at runtime to support AOP or Mock frameworks; uses getDeclaredField() to obtain fields and setAccessible(true) to modify private field values, which are suitable for testing or framework development; combined with annotation processors, it can generate code during the compilation period to improve performance and security. Although the reflection is strong, attention should be paid to performance overhead, exception handling and access control issues.
The Java reflection mechanism itself is already very powerful, but in the case of Metaprogramming, we often need to use reflection more deeply to dynamically process classes, methods and fields. This is not just as simple as getting class information at runtime, but rather the ability to truly implement "code generation code" or "dynamic behavior control".

This article mainly talks about how to use advanced reflection techniques in Java to support metaprogramming practice.
Get the class structure and call the method dynamically
A common requirement for metaprogramming is to perform certain operations dynamically based on runtime information. For example, you might need to load a class based on the configuration file and call a method of it.

Key points:
- Loading the class using
Class.forName()
- Get method object through
getDeclaredMethods()
orgetMethod()
- Dynamically call methods using
Method.invoke()
Class<?> clazz = Class.forName("com.example.MyService"); Object instance = clazz.getDeclaredConstructor().newInstance(); Method method = clazz.getMethod("doSomething", String.class); method.invoke(instance, "hello");
suggestion:

- Try to read the method name and parameter type from the configuration to avoid hard coding
- Pay attention to exception handling, especially
IllegalAccessException
andInvocationTargetException
- Use
setAccessible(true)
for private methods, but be careful of security restrictions
Dynamically create classes and proxy objects
Sometimes you need to generate new classes at runtime, such as to implement AOP (sectional-oriented programming) or Mock frameworks. Java provides two ways:
- JDK Dynamic Proxy (Interface-based)
- CGLIB (based on inheritance)
The basic process of JDK dynamic proxy:
- Implement the
InvocationHandler
interface - Call
Proxy.newProxyInstance()
to create a proxy object
MyInterface proxy = (MyInterface) Proxy.newProxyInstance( loader, new Class[]{MyInterface.class}, handler);
CGLIB is more flexible:
- No interface is needed, subclasses are generated directly
- More suitable for intercepting method calls in specific classes
Notice:
- The generated class will not be automatically uninstalled by the JVM, which may cause memory problems.
- Some frameworks (such as Spring) automatically choose the proxy method by default, but it is important to understand the underlying principles.
Modify class field values and bypass access control
Sometimes you need to modify the private fields of an object, such as injecting dependencies when doing unit testing, or viewing internal status during debugging.
Basic steps:
- Get field object:
clazz.getDeclaredField("fieldName")
- Set accessibility:
field.setAccessible(true)
- Modify the value:
field.set(instance, newValue)
Field field = MyClass.class.getDeclaredField("secretValue"); field.setAccessible(true); field.set(myInstance, "new secret");
Pay attention to practical applications:
- Security Manager may block
setAccessible(true)
- In modular systems (Java 9), some packages are not accessible by default
- Try to use it only in tests or frameworks to avoid abuse and destroy encapsulation
Compile period metaprogramming combined with annotation processor
Although reflection is a runtime mechanism, if you want to generate code during the compilation stage, you can combine an annotation processor to do static metaprogramming.
Typical application scenarios:
- Code generation of frameworks such as ButterKnife, Dagger, etc.
- Automatically generate Builder, ToString and other methods
Key points:
- Writing custom annotations and processors
- Using
javac
's API to analyze code structure at compile time - Generate new source files using
JavaFileObject
Although this method does not use reflection directly, it is a supplement to the reflection-driven metaprogramming logic - taking part of the runtime work forward to compile time to improve performance and security.
Basically that's it. Reflection plays far more than "look at class structures" in Java metaprogramming. It can help you build highly dynamic and flexible systems. But don't forget that reflection operations are much slower than direct calls and can easily lead to maintenance costs. When using it, think clearly whether you really need it.
There are several uncomplexing but easy to ignore: access control, exception handling, and changes in the support of reflections by different JDK versions. Pay more attention to these details and you can avoid many pitfalls.
The above is the detailed content of Advanced Java Reflection for Metaprogramming. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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