What's the nearest substitute for a function pointer in Java?

Question

I have a method that\'s about ten lines of code. I want to create more methods that do exactly the same thing, except for a small calculation that\'s going to change one li

Answer 1

Prior to Java 8, nearest substitute for function-pointer-like functionality was an anonymous class. For example:

Collections.sort(list, new Comparator<CustomClass>(){
    public int compare(CustomClass a, CustomClass b)
    {
        // Logic to compare objects of class CustomClass which returns int as per contract.
    }
});

But now in Java 8 we have a very neat alternative known as lambda expression, which can be used as:

list.sort((a, b) ->  { a.isBiggerThan(b) } );

where isBiggerThan is a method in CustomClass. We can also use method references here:

list.sort(MyClass::isBiggerThan);

Answer 2

Sounds like a strategy pattern to me. Check out fluffycat.com Java patterns.

Answer 3

You may also be interested to hear about work going on for Java 7 involving closures:

What’s the current state of closures in Java?

http://gafter.blogspot.com/2006/08/closures-for-java.html
http://tech.puredanger.com/java7/#closures

Answer 4

To do the same thing without interfaces for an array of functions:

class NameFuncPair
{
    public String name;                // name each func
    void   f(String x) {}              // stub gets overridden
    public NameFuncPair(String myName) { this.name = myName; }
}

public class ArrayOfFunctions
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        final A a = new A();
        final B b = new B();

        NameFuncPair[] fArray = new NameFuncPair[]
        {
            new NameFuncPair("A") { @Override void f(String x) { a.g(x); } },
            new NameFuncPair("B") { @Override void f(String x) { b.h(x); } },
        };

        // Go through the whole func list and run the func named "B"
        for (NameFuncPair fInstance : fArray)
        {
            if (fInstance.name.equals("B"))
            {
                fInstance.f(fInstance.name + "(some args)");
            }
        }
    }
}

class A { void g(String args) { System.out.println(args); } }
class B { void h(String args) { System.out.println(args); } }