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javagenericscompiler-errorssyntax-error
Jadiel de Armas
Jadiel de Armas

Reputation: 8802

Generics error syntax Java 1.7 on generics function

Using Java 1.7 compiler, it is interesting to note that the syntax accepted to call generic functions is very particular. It forces you to use this to refer to the generic function.

For example for a function defined as:

private <T> Object genericFunction(T t){
    //function code
}

When referring to it, the following is gives a syntax error:

Object o = <ClassName>genericFunction(ClassName t);

While the following is accepted:

Object o = this.<ClassName>genericFunction(ClassName t);

Why is this so? Shouldn't it take both of them?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 134

Answers (1)

Sotirios Delimanolis
Sotirios Delimanolis

Reputation: 280141

It's required by the Java Language Specification.

MethodInvocation:

  • MethodName ( [ArgumentList] )
  • TypeName . [TypeArguments] Identifier ( [ArgumentList] )
  • ExpressionName . [TypeArguments] Identifier ( [ArgumentList] )
  • Primary . [TypeArguments] Identifier ( [ArgumentList] )
  • super . [TypeArguments] Identifier ( [ArgumentList] )
  • TypeName . super . [TypeArguments] Identifier ( [ArgumentList] )

The TypeArguments element always has to come after some expression followed by a .. It cannot preceded a simple method name.

Upvotes: 6

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