getClass() of a Generic Method Parameter in a Java

Question

The following Java method fails to compile:

 void foo(T t)
{
    Class klass = t.getClass();
}

Error

Answer 1

Because the T class' type doesn't extend from T. Instead, it extends from Number, exactly as you have declared yourself in . Simple as that.

A better question would be:

Why doesn't the following compile?

 void foo(T t)
{
    Class class1 = t.getClass();
}

The answer to that is that the Object#getClass() returns Class with an unbounded wildcard ? because the object itself is not directly aware about its generic type which is been expected in an arbitrary method.