Creating an instance using the class name and calling constructor

Question

Is there a way to create an instance of a particular class given the class name (dynamic) and pass parameters to its constructor.

Something like:

Object object = createInstance("mypackage.MyClass","MyAttributeValue");

Where "MyAttributeValue" is an argument to the constructor of MyClass.

Answer 1

Another helpful answer. How do I use getConstructor(params).newInstance(args)?

return Class.forName(**complete classname**)
    .getConstructor(**here pass parameters passed in constructor**)
    .newInstance(**here pass arguments**);

In my case, my class's constructor takes Webdriver as parameter, so used below code:

return Class.forName("com.page.BillablePage")
    .getConstructor(WebDriver.class)
    .newInstance(this.driver);

Answer 2

If anyone is looking for a way to create an instance of a class despite the class following the Singleton Pattern, here is a way to do it.

// Get Class instance
Class<?> clazz = Class.forName("myPackage.MyClass");

// Get the private constructor.
Constructor<?> cons = clazz.getDeclaredConstructor();

// Since it is private, make it accessible.
cons.setAccessible(true);

// Create new object. 
Object obj = cons.newInstance();

This only works for classes that implement singleton pattern using a private constructor.

Answer 3

Very Simple way to create an object in Java using Class<?> with constructor argument(s) passing:

Case 1:- Here, is a small code in this Main class:

import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;

public class Main {

    public static void main(String args[]) throws ClassNotFoundException, NoSuchMethodException, SecurityException, InstantiationException, IllegalAccessException, IllegalArgumentException, InvocationTargetException {

        // Get class name as string.
        String myClassName = Base.class.getName();
        // Create class of type Base.
        Class<?> myClass = Class.forName(myClassName);
        // Create constructor call with argument types.
        Constructor<?> ctr = myClass.getConstructor(String.class);
        // Finally create object of type Base and pass data to constructor.
        String arg1 = "My User Data";
        Object object = ctr.newInstance(new Object[] { arg1 });
        // Type-cast and access the data from class Base.
        Base base = (Base)object;
        System.out.println(base.data);
    }

}

And, here is the Base class structure:

public class Base {

    public String data = null;

    public Base() 
    {
        data = "default";
        System.out.println("Base()");
    }

    public Base(String arg1) {
        data = arg1;
        System.out.println("Base("+arg1+")");
    }

}

Case 2:- You, can code similarly for constructor with multiple argument and copy constructor. For example, passing 3 arguments as parameter to the Base constructor will need the constructor to be created in class and a code change in above as:

Constructor<?> ctr = myClass.getConstructor(String.class, String.class, String.class);
Object object = ctr.newInstance(new Object[] { "Arg1", "Arg2", "Arg3" }); 

And here the Base class should somehow look like:

public class Base {

    public Base(String a, String b, String c){
        // This constructor need to be created in this case.
    }   
}

Note:- Don't forget to handle the various exceptions which need to be handled in the code.

Answer 4

You can also invoke methods inside the created object.

You can create object instant by invoking the first constractor and then invoke the first method in the created object.

    Class<?> c = Class.forName("mypackage.MyClass");
    Constructor<?> ctor = c.getConstructors()[0];
    Object object=ctor.newInstance(new Object[]{"ContstractorArgs"});
    c.getDeclaredMethods()[0].invoke(object,Object... MethodArgs);

Answer 5

Yes, something like:

Class<?> clazz = Class.forName(className);
Constructor<?> ctor = clazz.getConstructor(String.class);
Object object = ctor.newInstance(new Object[] { ctorArgument });

That will only work for a single string parameter of course, but you can modify it pretty easily.

Note that the class name has to be a fully-qualified one, i.e. including the namespace. For nested classes, you need to use a dollar (as that's what the compiler uses). For example:

package foo;

public class Outer
{
    public static class Nested {}
}

To obtain the Class object for that, you'd need Class.forName("foo.Outer$Nested").

Answer 6

when using (i.e.) getConstructor(String.lang) the constructor has to be declared public. Otherwise a NoSuchMethodException is thrown.

if you want to access a non-public constructor you have to use instead (i.e.) getDeclaredConstructor(String.lang).

Answer 7

If class has only one empty constructor (like Activity or Fragment etc, android classes):

Class<?> myClass = Class.forName("com.example.MyClass");    
Constructor<?> constructor = myClass.getConstructors()[0];

Answer 8

You want to be using java.lang.reflect.Constructor.newInstance(Object...)

Answer 9

You can use reflections

return Class.forName(className).getConstructor(String.class).newInstance(arg);

Answer 10

You can use Class.forName() to get a Class object of the desired class.

Then use getConstructor() to find the desired Constructor object.

Finally, call newInstance() on that object to get your new instance.

Class<?> c = Class.forName("mypackage.MyClass");
Constructor<?> cons = c.getConstructor(String.class);
Object object = cons.newInstance("MyAttributeValue");