Class (Java SE 26 & JDK 26)
Description: declaration: module: java.base, package: java.lang, class: Class
Keywords: java.lang.Class class

# Class Class<T>

java.lang.Object
java.lang.Class<T>

Type Parameters:
  `T` - the type of the class modeled by this `Class` object. For example, the type of `String.class` is `Class<String>`. Use `Class<?>` if the class being modeled is unknown.

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable, Constable, TypeDescriptor, TypeDescriptor.OfField<Class<?>>, AnnotatedElement, GenericDeclaration, Type`

public final class Class<T> extends Object implements Serializable, GenericDeclaration, Type, AnnotatedElement, TypeDescriptor.OfField<Class<?>>, Constable
Instances of the class `Class` represent classes and interfaces in a running Java application. An enum class and a record class are kinds of class; an annotation interface is a kind of interface. Every array also belongs to a class that is reflected as a `Class` object that is shared by all arrays with the same element type and number of dimensions. The primitive Java types (`boolean`, `byte`, `char`, `short`, `int`, `long`, `float`, and `double`), and the keyword `void` are also represented as `Class` objects.

`Class` has no public constructor. Instead a `Class` object is constructed automatically by the Java Virtual Machine when a class is derived from the bytes of a `class` file through the invocation of one of the following methods:

- `ClassLoader::defineClass`
- `java.lang.invoke.MethodHandles.Lookup::defineClass`
- `java.lang.invoke.MethodHandles.Lookup::defineHiddenClass`

The methods of class `Class` expose many characteristics of a class or interface. Most characteristics are derived from the `class` file that the class loader passed to the Java Virtual Machine or from the `class` file passed to `Lookup::defineClass` or `Lookup::defineHiddenClass`. A few characteristics are determined by the class loading environment at run time, such as the module returned by `getModule()`.

The following example uses a `Class` object to print the class name of an object:

    void printClassName(Object obj) {
        System.out.println("The class of " + obj +
                           " is " + obj.getClass().getName());
    }

It is also possible to get the `Class` object for a named class or interface (or for `void`) using a class literal (JLS 15.8.2). For example:

    System.out.println("The name of class Foo is: " + Foo.class.getName());

Some methods of class `Class` expose whether the declaration of a class or interface in Java source code was enclosed within another declaration. Other methods describe how a class or interface is situated in a nest. A nest is a set of classes and interfaces, in the same run-time package, that allow mutual access to their `private` members. The classes and interfaces are known as nestmates (JVMS 4.7.29). One nestmate acts as the nest host (JVMS 4.7.28), and enumerates the other nestmates which belong to the nest; each of them in turn records it as the nest host. The classes and interfaces which belong to a nest, including its host, are determined when `class` files are generated, for example, a Java compiler will typically record a top-level class as the host of a nest where the other members are the classes and interfaces whose declarations are enclosed within the top-level class declaration.

Unless otherwise specified, methods in this class throw a `NullPointerException` when they are called with `null` or an array that contains `null` as an argument.

## Hidden Classes

A class or interface created by the invocation of `Lookup::defineHiddenClass` is a hidden class or interface. All kinds of class, including enum classes and record classes, may be hidden classes; all kinds of interface, including annotation interfaces, may be hidden interfaces. The name of a hidden class or interface is not a binary name, which means the following:

- A hidden class or interface cannot be referenced by the constant pools of other classes and interfaces.
- A hidden class or interface cannot be described in nominal form by `Class::describeConstable`, `ClassDesc::of`, or `ClassDesc::ofDescriptor`.
- A hidden class or interface cannot be discovered by `Class::forName` or `ClassLoader::loadClass`.

A hidden class or interface is never an array class, but may be the element type of an array. In all other respects, the fact that a class or interface is hidden has no bearing on the characteristics exposed by the methods of class `Class`.

## Implicitly Declared Classes

Conventionally, a Java compiler, starting from a source file for an implicitly declared class, say `HelloWorld.java`, creates a similarly-named `class` file, `HelloWorld.class`, where the class stored in that `class` file is named `"HelloWorld"`, matching the base names of the source and `class` files. For the `Class` object of an implicitly declared class `HelloWorld`, the methods to get the name and type name return results equal to `"HelloWorld"`. The simple name of such an implicitly declared class is `"HelloWorld"` and the canonical name is `"HelloWorld"`.

Since:
  1.0
See Also:
  - `ClassLoader.defineClass(byte[], int, int)`
  - Serialized Form

- ## Nested Class Summary

  ### Nested classes/interfaces declared in interface TypeDescriptor

  `TypeDescriptor.OfField<F>, TypeDescriptor.OfMethod<F,M>`
  Modifier and Type
  Interface
  Description
  `static interface`
  `TypeDescriptor.OfField<F extends TypeDescriptor.OfField<F>>`
  An entity that has a field type descriptor.
  `static interface`
  `TypeDescriptor.OfMethod<F extends TypeDescriptor.OfField<F>, M extends TypeDescriptor.OfMethod<F,M>>`
  An entity that has a method type descriptor Method descriptors conforming to JVMS 4.3.3 can be described nominally via `MethodType::describeConstable`; otherwise they cannot be described nominally.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Set<AccessFlag>`
  `accessFlags()`
  Returns an unmodifiable set of the access flags for this class, possibly empty.
  `Class<?>`
  `arrayType()`
  Returns a `Class` for an array type whose component type is described by this Class.
  `<U> Class<? extends U>`
  `asSubclass(Class<U> clazz)`
  Casts this `Class` object to represent a subclass of the class represented by the specified class object.
  `T`
  `cast(Object obj)`
  Casts an object to the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Class<?>`
  `componentType()`
  Returns the component type of this `Class`, if it describes an array type, or `null` otherwise.
  `Optional<ClassDesc>`
  `describeConstable()`
  Returns a nominal descriptor for this instance, if one can be constructed, or an empty `Optional` if one cannot be.
  `String`
  `descriptorString()`
  Returns the descriptor string of the entity (class, interface, array class, primitive type, or `void`) represented by this `Class` object.
  `boolean`
  `desiredAssertionStatus()`
  Returns the assertion status that would be assigned to this class if it were to be initialized at the time this method is invoked.
  `static Class<?>`
  `forName(Module module, String name)`
  Returns the `Class` with the given binary name in the given module.
  `static Class<?>`
  `forName(String className)`
  Returns the `Class` object associated with the class or interface with the given string name.
  `static Class<?>`
  `forName(String name, boolean initialize, ClassLoader loader)`
  Returns the `Class` object associated with the class or interface with the given string name, using the given class loader.
  `static Class<?>`
  `forPrimitiveName(String primitiveName)`
  Returns the `Class` object associated with the primitive type of the given name.
  `AnnotatedType[]`
  `getAnnotatedInterfaces()`
  Returns an array of `AnnotatedType` objects that represent the use of types to specify superinterfaces of the entity represented by this `Class` object.
  `AnnotatedType`
  `getAnnotatedSuperclass()`
  Returns an `AnnotatedType` object that represents the use of a type to specify the superclass of the entity represented by this `Class` object.
  `<A extends Annotation>
  A`
  `getAnnotation(Class<A> annotationClass)`
  Returns this element's annotation for the specified type if such an annotation is present, else null.
  `Annotation[]`
  `getAnnotations()`
  Returns annotations that are present on this element.
  `<A extends Annotation>
  A[]`
  `getAnnotationsByType(Class<A> annotationClass)`
  Returns annotations that are associated with this element.
  `String`
  `getCanonicalName()`
  Returns the canonical name of the underlying class as defined by The Java Language Specification.
  `Class<?>[]`
  `getClasses()`
  Returns an array containing `Class` objects representing all the public classes and interfaces that are members of the class represented by this `Class` object.
  `ClassLoader`
  `getClassLoader()`
  Returns the class loader for the class.
  `Class<?>`
  `getComponentType()`
  Returns the `Class` representing the component type of an array.
  `Constructor<T>`
  `getConstructor(Class<?>... parameterTypes)`
  Returns a `Constructor` object that reflects the specified public constructor of the class represented by this `Class` object.
  `Constructor<?>[]`
  `getConstructors()`
  Returns an array containing `Constructor` objects reflecting all the public constructors of the class represented by this `Class` object.
  `<A extends Annotation>
  A`
  `getDeclaredAnnotation(Class<A> annotationClass)`
  Returns this element's annotation for the specified type if such an annotation is directly present, else null.
  `Annotation[]`
  `getDeclaredAnnotations()`
  Returns annotations that are directly present on this element.
  `<A extends Annotation>
  A[]`
  `getDeclaredAnnotationsByType(Class<A> annotationClass)`
  Returns this element's annotation(s) for the specified type if such annotations are either directly present or indirectly present.
  `Class<?>[]`
  `getDeclaredClasses()`
  Returns an array of `Class` objects reflecting all the classes and interfaces declared as members of the class represented by this `Class` object.
  `Constructor<T>`
  `getDeclaredConstructor(Class<?>... parameterTypes)`
  Returns a `Constructor` object that reflects the specified constructor of the class represented by this `Class` object.
  `Constructor<?>[]`
  `getDeclaredConstructors()`
  Returns an array of `Constructor` objects reflecting all the constructors implicitly or explicitly declared by the class represented by this `Class` object.
  `Field`
  `getDeclaredField(String name)`
  Returns a `Field` object that reflects the specified declared field of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Field[]`
  `getDeclaredFields()`
  Returns an array of `Field` objects reflecting all the fields declared by the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Method`
  `getDeclaredMethod(String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes)`
  Returns a `Method` object that reflects the specified declared method of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Method[]`
  `getDeclaredMethods()`
  Returns an array containing `Method` objects reflecting all the declared methods of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object, including public, protected, default (package) access, and private methods, but excluding inherited methods.
  `Class<?>`
  `getDeclaringClass()`
  If the class or interface represented by this `Class` object is a member of another class, returns the `Class` object representing the class in which it was declared.
  `Class<?>`
  `getEnclosingClass()`
  Returns the immediately enclosing class of the underlying class.
  `Constructor<?>`
  `getEnclosingConstructor()`
  If this `Class` object represents a local or anonymous class within a constructor, returns a `Constructor` object representing the immediately enclosing constructor of the underlying class.
  `Method`
  `getEnclosingMethod()`
  If this `Class` object represents a local or anonymous class within a method, returns a `Method` object representing the immediately enclosing method of the underlying class.
  `T[]`
  `getEnumConstants()`
  Returns the elements of this enum class or null if this Class object does not represent an enum class.
  `Field`
  `getField(String name)`
  Returns a `Field` object that reflects the specified public member field of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Field[]`
  `getFields()`
  Returns an array containing `Field` objects reflecting all the accessible public fields of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Type[]`
  `getGenericInterfaces()`
  Returns the `Type`s representing the interfaces directly implemented by the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Type`
  `getGenericSuperclass()`
  Returns the `Type` representing the direct superclass of the entity (class, interface, primitive type or void) represented by this `Class` object.
  `Class<?>[]`
  `getInterfaces()`
  Returns the interfaces directly implemented by the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Method`
  `getMethod(String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes)`
  Returns a `Method` object that reflects the specified public member method of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `Method[]`
  `getMethods()`
  Returns an array containing `Method` objects reflecting all the public methods of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object, including those declared by the class or interface and those inherited from superclasses and superinterfaces.
  `int`
  `getModifiers()`
  Returns the Java language modifiers for this class or interface, encoded in an integer.
  `Module`
  `getModule()`
  Returns the module that this class or interface is a member of.
  `String`
  `getName()`
  Returns the name of the entity (class, interface, array class, primitive type, or void) represented by this `Class` object.
  `Class<?>`
  `getNestHost()`
  Returns the nest host of the nest to which the class or interface represented by this `Class` object belongs.
  `Class<?>[]`
  `getNestMembers()`
  Returns an array containing `Class` objects representing all the classes and interfaces that are members of the nest to which the class or interface represented by this `Class` object belongs.
  `Package`
  `getPackage()`
  Gets the package of this class.
  `String`
  `getPackageName()`
  Returns the fully qualified package name.
  `Class<?>[]`
  `getPermittedSubclasses()`
  Returns an array containing `Class` objects representing the direct subinterfaces or subclasses permitted to extend or implement this class or interface if it is sealed.
  `ProtectionDomain`
  `getProtectionDomain()`
  Returns the `ProtectionDomain` of this class.
  `RecordComponent[]`
  `getRecordComponents()`
  Returns an array of `RecordComponent` objects representing all the record components of this record class, or `null` if this class is not a record class.
  `URL`
  `getResource(String name)`
  Finds a resource with a given name.
  `InputStream`
  `getResourceAsStream(String name)`
  Finds a resource with a given name.
  `Object[]`
  `getSigners()`
  Gets the signers of this class.
  `String`
  `getSimpleName()`
  Returns the simple name of the underlying class as given in the source code.
  `Class<? super T>`
  `getSuperclass()`
  Returns the `Class` representing the direct superclass of the entity (class, interface, primitive type or void) represented by this `Class`.
  `String`
  `getTypeName()`
  Return an informative string for the name of this class or interface.
  `TypeVariable<Class<T>>[]`
  `getTypeParameters()`
  Returns an array of `TypeVariable` objects that represent the type variables declared by the generic declaration represented by this `GenericDeclaration` object, in declaration order.
  `boolean`
  `isAnnotation()`
  Returns true if this `Class` object represents an annotation interface.
  `boolean`
  `isAnnotationPresent(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationClass)`
  Returns true if an annotation for the specified type is present on this element, else false.
  `boolean`
  `isAnonymousClass()`
  Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is an anonymous class.
  `boolean`
  `isArray()`
  Determines if this `Class` object represents an array class.
  `boolean`
  `isAssignableFrom(Class<?> cls)`
  Determines if the class or interface represented by this `Class` object is either the same as, or is a superclass or superinterface of, the class or interface represented by the specified `Class` parameter.
  `boolean`
  `isEnum()`
  Returns true if and only if this class was declared as an enum in the source code.
  `boolean`
  `isHidden()`
  Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is a hidden class.
  `boolean`
  `isInstance(Object obj)`
  Determines if the specified `Object` is assignment-compatible with the object represented by this `Class`.
  `boolean`
  `isInterface()`
  Determines if this `Class` object represents an interface type.
  `boolean`
  `isLocalClass()`
  Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is a local class.
  `boolean`
  `isMemberClass()`
  Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is a member class.
  `boolean`
  `isNestmateOf(Class<?> c)`
  Determines if the given `Class` is a nestmate of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
  `boolean`
  `isPrimitive()`
  Determines if this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void.
  `boolean`
  `isRecord()`
  Returns `true` if and only if this class is a record class.
  `boolean`
  `isSealed()`
  Returns `true` if and only if this `Class` object represents a sealed class or interface.
  `boolean`
  `isSynthetic()`
  Returns `true` if and only if this class has the synthetic modifier bit set.
  `T`
  `newInstance()`
  Deprecated.
  This method propagates any exception thrown by the nullary constructor, including a checked exception.
  `String`
  `toGenericString()`
  Returns a string describing this `Class`, including information about modifiers, `sealed`/`non-sealed` status, and type parameters.
  `String`
  `toString()`
  Converts the object to a string.

  ### Methods declared in class Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `protected Object`
  `clone()`
  Creates and returns a copy of this object.
  `boolean`
  `equals(Object obj)`
  Indicates whether some other object is "equal to" this one.
  `protected void`
  `finalize()`
  Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
  Finalization is deprecated and subject to removal in a future release.
  `final Class<?>`
  `getClass()`
  Returns the runtime class of this `Object`.
  `int`
  `hashCode()`
  Returns a hash code value for this object.
  `final void`
  `notify()`
  Wakes up a single thread that is waiting on this object's monitor.
  `final void`
  `notifyAll()`
  Wakes up all threads that are waiting on this object's monitor.
  `final void`
  `wait()`
  Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted.
  `final void`
  `wait(long timeoutMillis)`
  Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted, or until a certain amount of real time has elapsed.
  `final void`
  `wait(long timeoutMillis, int nanos)`
  Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted, or until a certain amount of real time has elapsed.

- ## Method Details

  - ### toString

    public String toString()
    Converts the object to a string. The string representation is the string "class" or "interface", followed by a space, and then by the name of the class in the format returned by `getName`. If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, this method returns the name of the primitive type. If this `Class` object represents void this method returns "void". If this `Class` object represents an array type, this method returns "class " followed by `getName`.
    Overrides:
      `toString` in class `Object`
    Returns:
      a string representation of this `Class` object.

  - ### toGenericString

    public String toGenericString()
    Returns a string describing this `Class`, including information about modifiers, `sealed`/`non-sealed` status, and type parameters. The string is formatted as a list of type modifiers, if any, followed by the kind of type (empty string for primitive types and `class`, `enum`, `interface`, `@interface`, or `record` as appropriate), followed by the type's name, followed by an angle-bracketed comma-separated list of the type's type parameters, if any, including informative bounds on the type parameters, if any. A space is used to separate modifiers from one another and to separate any modifiers from the kind of type. The modifiers occur in canonical order. If there are no type parameters, the type parameter list is elided. For an array type, the string starts with the type name, followed by an angle-bracketed comma-separated list of the type's type parameters, if any, followed by a sequence of `[]` characters, one set of brackets per dimension of the array.

    Note that since information about the runtime representation of a type is being generated, modifiers not present on the originating source code or illegal on the originating source code may be present.

    Returns:
      a string describing this `Class`, including information about modifiers and type parameters
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### forName

    public static Class<?> forName(String className) throws ClassNotFoundException
    Returns the `Class` object associated with the class or interface with the given string name. Invoking this method is equivalent to:

        Class.forName(className, true, currentLoader)

    where `currentLoader` denotes the defining class loader of the current class.

    For example, the following code fragment returns the runtime `Class` object for the class named `java.lang.Thread`:

        Class<?> t = Class.forName("java.lang.Thread");

    A call to `forName("X")` causes the class named `X` to be initialized.

    In cases where this method is called from a context where there is no caller frame on the stack (e.g. when called directly from a JNI attached thread), the system class loader is used.

    Parameters:
      `className` - the binary name of the class or the string representing an array type
    Returns:
      the `Class` object for the class with the specified name.
    Throws:
      `LinkageError` - if the linkage fails
      `ExceptionInInitializerError` - if the initialization provoked by this method fails
      `ClassNotFoundException` - if the class cannot be located
    See Java Language Specification:
      12.2 Loading of Classes and Interfaces
      12.3 Linking of Classes and Interfaces
      12.4 Initialization of Classes and Interfaces

  - ### forName

    public static Class<?> forName(String name, boolean initialize, ClassLoader loader) throws ClassNotFoundException
    Returns the `Class` object associated with the class or interface with the given string name, using the given class loader. Given the binary name for a class or interface, this method attempts to locate and load the class or interface. The specified class loader is used to load the class or interface. If the parameter `loader` is `null`, the class is loaded through the bootstrap class loader. The class is initialized only if the `initialize` parameter is `true` and if it has not been initialized earlier.

    This method cannot be used to obtain any of the `Class` objects representing primitive types or void, hidden classes or interfaces, or array classes whose element type is a hidden class or interface. If `name` denotes a primitive type or void, for example `I`, an attempt will be made to locate a user-defined class in the unnamed package whose name is `I` instead. To obtain a `Class` object for a named primitive type such as `int` or `long` use `forPrimitiveName(String)`.

    To obtain the `Class` object associated with an array class, the name consists of one or more `'['` representing the depth of the array nesting, followed by the element type as encoded in the table specified in `Class.getName()`.

    Examples:

        Class<?> threadClass = Class.forName("java.lang.Thread", false, currentLoader);
        Class<?> stringArrayClass = Class.forName("[Ljava.lang.String;", false, currentLoader);
        Class<?> intArrayClass = Class.forName("[[[I", false, currentLoader);   // Class of int[][][]
        Class<?> nestedClass = Class.forName("java.lang.Character$UnicodeBlock", false, currentLoader);
        Class<?> fooClass = Class.forName("Foo", true, currentLoader);

    A call to `getName()` on the `Class` object returned from `forName(`N`)` returns N.

    A call to `forName("[L`N`;")` causes the element type named N to be loaded but not initialized regardless of the value of the `initialize` parameter.

    API Note:
      This method throws errors related to loading, linking or initializing as specified in Sections 12.2, 12.3, and 12.4 of The Java Language Specification. In addition, this method does not check whether the requested class is accessible to its caller.
    Parameters:
      `name` - the binary name of the class or the string representing an array class
      `initialize` - if `true` the class will be initialized (which implies linking). See Section 12.4 of The Java Language Specification.
      `loader` - class loader from which the class must be loaded, may be `null`
    Returns:
      class object representing the desired class
    Throws:
      `LinkageError` - if the linkage fails
      `ExceptionInInitializerError` - if the initialization provoked by this method fails
      `ClassNotFoundException` - if the class cannot be located by the specified class loader
    See Java Language Specification:
      12.2 Loading of Classes and Interfaces
      12.3 Linking of Classes and Interfaces
      12.4 Initialization of Classes and Interfaces
      13.1 The Form of a Binary
    Since:
      1.2
    See Also:
      - `forName(String)`
      - `ClassLoader`

  - ### forName

    public static Class<?> forName(Module module, String name)
    Returns the `Class` with the given binary name in the given module.

    This method attempts to locate and load the class or interface. It does not link the class, and does not run the class initializer. If the class is not found, this method returns `null`.

    If the class loader of the given module defines other modules and the given name is a class defined in a different module, this method returns `null` after the class is loaded.

    This method does not check whether the requested class is accessible to its caller.

    API Note:
      This method does not support loading of array types, unlike `forName(String, boolean, ClassLoader)`. The class name must be a binary name. This method returns `null` on failure rather than throwing a `ClassNotFoundException`, as is done by the `forName(String, boolean, ClassLoader)` method.
    Parameters:
      `module` - A module
      `name` - The binary name of the class
    Returns:
      `Class` object of the given name defined in the given module; `null` if not found.
    Throws:
      `LinkageError` - if the linkage fails
    See Java Language Specification:
      12.2 Loading of Classes and Interfaces
      12.3 Linking of Classes and Interfaces
    Since:
      9

  - ### forPrimitiveName

    public static Class<?> forPrimitiveName(String primitiveName)
    Returns the `Class` object associated with the primitive type of the given name. If the argument is not the name of a primitive type, `null` is returned.
    Parameters:
      `primitiveName` - the name of the primitive type to find
    Returns:
      the `Class` object associated with the primitive type of the given name
    See Java Language Specification:
      4.2 Primitive Types and Values
      15.8.2 Class Literals
    Since:
      22

  - ### newInstance

    @Deprecated(since="9") public T newInstance() throws InstantiationException, IllegalAccessException
    Deprecated.
    This method propagates any exception thrown by the nullary constructor, including a checked exception. Use of this method effectively bypasses the compile-time exception checking that would otherwise be performed by the compiler. The `Constructor.newInstance` method avoids this problem by wrapping any exception thrown by the constructor in a (checked) `InvocationTargetException`.

    The call

        clazz.newInstance()

    can be replaced by

        clazz.getDeclaredConstructor().newInstance()

    The latter sequence of calls is inferred to be able to throw the additional exception types `InvocationTargetException` and `NoSuchMethodException`. Both of these exception types are subclasses of `ReflectiveOperationException`.
    Creates a new instance of the class represented by this `Class` object. The class is instantiated as if by a `new` expression with an empty argument list. The class is initialized if it has not already been initialized.
    Returns:
      a newly allocated instance of the class represented by this object.
    Throws:
      `IllegalAccessException` - if the class or its nullary constructor is not accessible.
      `InstantiationException` - if this `Class` represents an abstract class, an interface, an array class, a primitive type, or void; or if the class has no nullary constructor; or if the instantiation fails for some other reason.
      `ExceptionInInitializerError` - if the initialization provoked by this method fails.

  - ### isInstance

    public boolean isInstance(Object obj)
    Determines if the specified `Object` is assignment-compatible with the object represented by this `Class`. This method is the dynamic equivalent of the Java language `instanceof` operator. The method returns `true` if the specified `Object` argument is non-null and can be cast to the reference type represented by this `Class` object without raising a `ClassCastException.` It returns `false` otherwise.

    Specifically, if this `Class` object represents a declared class, this method returns `true` if the specified `Object` argument is an instance of the represented class (or of any of its subclasses); it returns `false` otherwise. If this `Class` object represents an array class, this method returns `true` if the specified `Object` argument can be converted to an object of the array class by an identity conversion or by a widening reference conversion; it returns `false` otherwise. If this `Class` object represents an interface, this method returns `true` if the class or any superclass of the specified `Object` argument implements this interface; it returns `false` otherwise. If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, this method returns `false`.

    Parameters:
      `obj` - the object to check, may be `null`
    Returns:
      true if `obj` is an instance of this class
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### isAssignableFrom

    public boolean isAssignableFrom(Class<?> cls)
    Determines if the class or interface represented by this `Class` object is either the same as, or is a superclass or superinterface of, the class or interface represented by the specified `Class` parameter. It returns `true` if so; otherwise it returns `false`. If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, this method returns `true` if the specified `Class` parameter is exactly this `Class` object; otherwise it returns `false`.

    Specifically, this method tests whether the type represented by the specified `Class` parameter can be converted to the type represented by this `Class` object via an identity conversion or via a widening reference conversion. See The Java Language Specification, sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.4, for details.

    Parameters:
      `cls` - the `Class` object to be checked
    Returns:
      the `boolean` value indicating whether objects of the type `cls` can be assigned to objects of this class
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### isInterface

    public boolean isInterface()
    Determines if this `Class` object represents an interface type.
    Returns:
      `true` if this `Class` object represents an interface; `false` otherwise.

  - ### isArray

    public boolean isArray()
    Determines if this `Class` object represents an array class.
    Specified by:
      `isArray` in interface `TypeDescriptor.OfField<T>`
    Returns:
      `true` if this `Class` object represents an array class; `false` otherwise.
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### isPrimitive

    public boolean isPrimitive()
    Determines if this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void.

    There are nine predefined `Class` objects to represent the eight primitive types and void. These are created by the Java Virtual Machine, and have the same names as the primitive types that they represent, namely `boolean`, `byte`, `char`, `short`, `int`, `long`, `float`, and `double`.

    No other class objects are considered primitive.

    Specified by:
      `isPrimitive` in interface `TypeDescriptor.OfField<T>`
    API Note:
      A `Class` object represented by a primitive type can be accessed via the `TYPE` public static final variables defined in the primitive wrapper classes such as `Integer.TYPE`. In the Java programming language, the objects may be referred to by a class literal expression such as `int.class`. The `Class` object for void can be expressed as `void.class` or `Void.TYPE`.
    Returns:
      true if and only if this class represents a primitive type
    See Java Language Specification:
      15.8.2 Class Literals
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `Boolean.TYPE`
      - `Character.TYPE`
      - `Byte.TYPE`
      - `Short.TYPE`
      - `Integer.TYPE`
      - `Long.TYPE`
      - `Float.TYPE`
      - `Double.TYPE`
      - `Void.TYPE`

  - ### isAnnotation

    public boolean isAnnotation()
    Returns true if this `Class` object represents an annotation interface. Note that if this method returns true, `isInterface()` would also return true, as all annotation interfaces are also interfaces.
    Returns:
      `true` if this `Class` object represents an annotation interface; `false` otherwise
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### isSynthetic

    public boolean isSynthetic()
    Returns `true` if and only if this class has the synthetic modifier bit set.
    Returns:
      `true` if and only if this class has the synthetic modifier bit set
    See Java Language Specification:
      13.1 The Form of a Binary
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.1 The `ClassFile` Structure
    Since:
      1.5
    See Also:
      - Java programming language and JVM modeling in core reflection

  - ### getName

    public String getName()
    Returns the name of the entity (class, interface, array class, primitive type, or void) represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface, not an array class, then:

    - If the class or interface is not hidden, then the binary name of the class or interface is returned.
    - If the class or interface is hidden, then the result is a string of the form: `N + '/' + <suffix>` where `N` is the binary name indicated by the `class` file passed to `Lookup::defineHiddenClass`, and `<suffix>` is an unqualified name.

    If this `Class` object represents an array class, then the result is a string consisting of one or more '`[`' characters representing the depth of the array nesting, followed by the element type as encoded using the following table:

    > Element types and encodings
    > Element Type | Encoding
    > --- | ---
    > `boolean` | `Z`
    > `byte` | `B`
    > `char` | `C`
    > class or interface with binary name N | `L`N`;`
    > `double` | `D`
    > `float` | `F`
    > `int` | `I`
    > `long` | `J`
    > `short` | `S`

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or `void`, then the result is a string with the same spelling as the Java language keyword which corresponds to the primitive type or `void`.

    Examples:

    >     String.class.getName()
    >         returns "java.lang.String"
    >     Character.UnicodeBlock.class.getName()
    >         returns "java.lang.Character$UnicodeBlock"
    >     byte.class.getName()
    >         returns "byte"
    >     (new Object[3]).getClass().getName()
    >         returns "[Ljava.lang.Object;"
    >     (new int[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]).getClass().getName()
    >         returns "[[[[[[[I"

    API Note:
      Distinct class objects can have the same name but different class loaders.
    Returns:
      the name of the class, interface, or other entity represented by this `Class` object.
    See Java Language Specification:
      13.1 The Form of a Binary

  - ### getClassLoader

    public ClassLoader getClassLoader()
    Returns the class loader for the class. Some implementations may use null to represent the bootstrap class loader. This method will return null in such implementations if this class was loaded by the bootstrap class loader.

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void, null is returned.

    Returns:
      the class loader that loaded the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
    See Also:
      - `ClassLoader`

  - ### getModule

    public Module getModule()
    Returns the module that this class or interface is a member of. If this class represents an array type then this method returns the `Module` for the element type. If this class represents a primitive type or void, then the `Module` object for the `java.base` module is returned. If this class is in an unnamed module then the unnamed `Module` of the class loader for this class is returned.
    Returns:
      the module that this class or interface is a member of
    Since:
      9

  - ### getTypeParameters

    public TypeVariable<Class<T>>[] getTypeParameters()
    Returns an array of `TypeVariable` objects that represent the type variables declared by the generic declaration represented by this `GenericDeclaration` object, in declaration order. Returns an array of length 0 if the underlying generic declaration declares no type variables.
    Specified by:
      `getTypeParameters` in interface `GenericDeclaration`
    Returns:
      an array of `TypeVariable` objects that represent the type variables declared by this generic declaration
    Throws:
      `GenericSignatureFormatError` - if the generic signature of this generic declaration does not conform to the format specified in section 4.7.9 of The Java Virtual Machine Specification
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getSuperclass

    public Class<? super T> getSuperclass()
    Returns the `Class` representing the direct superclass of the entity (class, interface, primitive type or void) represented by this `Class`. If this `Class` represents either the `Object` class, an interface, a primitive type, or void, then null is returned. If this `Class` object represents an array class then the `Class` object representing the `Object` class is returned.
    Returns:
      the direct superclass of the class represented by this `Class` object

  - ### getGenericSuperclass

    public Type getGenericSuperclass()
    Returns the `Type` representing the direct superclass of the entity (class, interface, primitive type or void) represented by this `Class` object.

    If the superclass is a parameterized type, the `Type` object returned must accurately reflect the actual type arguments used in the source code. The parameterized type representing the superclass is created if it had not been created before. See the declaration of `ParameterizedType` for the semantics of the creation process for parameterized types. If this `Class` object represents either the `Object` class, an interface, a primitive type, or void, then null is returned. If this `Class` object represents an array class then the `Class` object representing the `Object` class is returned.

    Returns:
      the direct superclass of the class represented by this `Class` object
    Throws:
      `GenericSignatureFormatError` - if the generic class signature does not conform to the format specified in section 4.7.9 of The Java Virtual Machine Specification
      `TypeNotPresentException` - if the generic superclass refers to a non-existent type declaration
      `MalformedParameterizedTypeException` - if the generic superclass refers to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated for any reason
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getPackage

    public Package getPackage()
    Gets the package of this class.

    If this class represents an array type, a primitive type or void, this method returns `null`.

    Returns:
      the package of this class.

  - ### getPackageName

    public String getPackageName()
    Returns the fully qualified package name.

    If this class is a top level class, then this method returns the fully qualified name of the package that the class is a member of, or the empty string if the class is in an unnamed package.

    If this class is a member class, then this method is equivalent to invoking `getPackageName()` on the enclosing class.

    If this class is a local class or an anonymous class, then this method is equivalent to invoking `getPackageName()` on the declaring class of the enclosing method or enclosing constructor.

    If this class represents an array type then this method returns the package name of the element type. If this class represents a primitive type or void then the package name "`java.lang`" is returned.

    Returns:
      the fully qualified package name
    See Java Language Specification:
      6.7 Fully Qualified Names and Canonical Names
    Since:
      9

  - ### getInterfaces

    public Class<?>[] getInterfaces()
    Returns the interfaces directly implemented by the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class, the return value is an array containing objects representing all interfaces directly implemented by the class. The order of the interface objects in the array corresponds to the order of the interface names in the `implements` clause of the declaration of the class represented by this `Class` object. For example, given the declaration:

    > `class Shimmer implements FloorWax, DessertTopping { ... }`

    suppose the value of `s` is an instance of `Shimmer`; the value of the expression:

    > `s.getClass().getInterfaces()[0]`

    is the `Class` object that represents interface `FloorWax`; and the value of:

    > `s.getClass().getInterfaces()[1]`

    is the `Class` object that represents interface `DessertTopping`.

    If this `Class` object represents an interface, the array contains objects representing all interfaces directly extended by the interface. The order of the interface objects in the array corresponds to the order of the interface names in the `extends` clause of the declaration of the interface represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface that implements no interfaces, the method returns an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void, the method returns an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, the interfaces `Cloneable` and `java.io.Serializable` are returned in that order.

    Returns:
      an array of interfaces directly implemented by this class

  - ### getGenericInterfaces

    public Type[] getGenericInterfaces()
    Returns the `Type`s representing the interfaces directly implemented by the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.

    If a superinterface is a parameterized type, the `Type` object returned for it must accurately reflect the actual type arguments used in the source code. The parameterized type representing each superinterface is created if it had not been created before. See the declaration of `ParameterizedType` for the semantics of the creation process for parameterized types.

    If this `Class` object represents a class, the return value is an array containing objects representing all interfaces directly implemented by the class. The order of the interface objects in the array corresponds to the order of the interface names in the `implements` clause of the declaration of the class represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents an interface, the array contains objects representing all interfaces directly extended by the interface. The order of the interface objects in the array corresponds to the order of the interface names in the `extends` clause of the declaration of the interface represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface that implements no interfaces, the method returns an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void, the method returns an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, the interfaces `Cloneable` and `java.io.Serializable` are returned in that order.

    Returns:
      an array of interfaces directly implemented by this class
    Throws:
      `GenericSignatureFormatError` - if the generic class signature does not conform to the format specified in section 4.7.9 of The Java Virtual Machine Specification
      `TypeNotPresentException` - if any of the generic superinterfaces refers to a non-existent type declaration
      `MalformedParameterizedTypeException` - if any of the generic superinterfaces refer to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated for any reason
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getComponentType

    public Class<?> getComponentType()
    Returns the `Class` representing the component type of an array. If this class does not represent an array class this method returns null.
    Returns:
      the `Class` representing the component type of this class if this class is an array
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `Array`

  - ### getModifiers

    public int getModifiers()
    Returns the Java language modifiers for this class or interface, encoded in an integer. The modifiers consist of the Java Virtual Machine's constants for `public`, `protected`, `private`, `final`, `static`, `abstract` and `interface`; they should be decoded using the methods of class `Modifier`.

    If the underlying class is an array class:

    - its `public`, `private` and `protected` modifiers are the same as those of its component type
    - its `abstract` and `final` modifiers are always `true`
    - its interface modifier is always `false`, even when the component type is an interface
    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void, its `public`, `abstract`, and `final` modifiers are always `true`. For `Class` objects representing void, primitive types, and arrays, the values of other modifiers are `false` other than as specified above.

    The modifier encodings are defined in section 4.1 of The Java Virtual Machine Specification.

    Returns:
      the `int` representing the modifiers for this class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.1.1 Class Modifiers
      9.1.1 Interface Modifiers
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.1 The `ClassFile` Structure
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `Modifier`
      - `accessFlags()`
      - Java programming language and JVM modeling in core reflection

  - ### accessFlags

    public Set<AccessFlag> accessFlags()
    Returns an unmodifiable set of the access flags for this class, possibly empty.

    If the underlying class is an array class:

    - its `PUBLIC`, `PRIVATE` and `PROTECTED` access flags are the same as those of its component type
    - its `ABSTRACT` and `FINAL` flags are present
    - its `INTERFACE` flag is absent, even when the component type is an interface
    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void, the flags are `PUBLIC`, `ABSTRACT`, and `FINAL`. For `Class` objects representing void, primitive types, and arrays, access flags are absent other than as specified above.
    Returns:
      an unmodifiable set of the access flags for this class, possibly empty
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.1 The ClassFile Structure
      4.7.6 The InnerClasses Attribute
    Since:
      20
    See Also:
      - `getModifiers()`

  - ### getSigners

    public Object[] getSigners()
    Gets the signers of this class.
    Returns:
      the signers of this class, or null if there are no signers. In particular, this method returns null if this `Class` object represents a primitive type or void.
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getEnclosingMethod

    public Method getEnclosingMethod()
    If this `Class` object represents a local or anonymous class within a method, returns a `Method` object representing the immediately enclosing method of the underlying class. Returns `null` otherwise. In particular, this method returns `null` if the underlying class is a local or anonymous class immediately enclosed by a class or interface declaration, instance initializer or static initializer.
    Returns:
      the immediately enclosing method of the underlying class, if that class is a local or anonymous class; otherwise `null`.
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getEnclosingConstructor

    public Constructor<?> getEnclosingConstructor()
    If this `Class` object represents a local or anonymous class within a constructor, returns a `Constructor` object representing the immediately enclosing constructor of the underlying class. Returns `null` otherwise. In particular, this method returns `null` if the underlying class is a local or anonymous class immediately enclosed by a class or interface declaration, instance initializer or static initializer.
    Returns:
      the immediately enclosing constructor of the underlying class, if that class is a local or anonymous class; otherwise `null`.
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getDeclaringClass

    public Class<?> getDeclaringClass()
    If the class or interface represented by this `Class` object is a member of another class, returns the `Class` object representing the class in which it was declared. This method returns null if this class or interface is not a member of any other class. If this `Class` object represents an array class, a primitive type, or void, then this method returns null.
    Returns:
      the declaring class for this class
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getEnclosingClass

    public Class<?> getEnclosingClass()
    Returns the immediately enclosing class of the underlying class. If the underlying class is a top level class this method returns `null`.
    Returns:
      the immediately enclosing class of the underlying class
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getSimpleName

    public String getSimpleName()
    Returns the simple name of the underlying class as given in the source code. An empty string is returned if the underlying class is anonymous. A synthetic class, one not present in source code, can have a non-empty name including special characters, such as "`$`".

    The simple name of an array class is the simple name of the component type with "[]" appended. In particular the simple name of an array class whose component type is anonymous is "[]".

    Returns:
      the simple name of the underlying class
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getTypeName

    public String getTypeName()
    Return an informative string for the name of this class or interface.
    Specified by:
      `getTypeName` in interface `Type`
    Returns:
      an informative string for the name of this class or interface
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### getCanonicalName

    public String getCanonicalName()
    Returns the canonical name of the underlying class as defined by The Java Language Specification. Returns `null` if the underlying class does not have a canonical name. Classes without canonical names include:
    - a local class
    - a anonymous class
    - a hidden class
    - an array whose component type does not have a canonical name
    The canonical name for a primitive class is the keyword for the corresponding primitive type (`byte`, `short`, `char`, `int`, and so on).

    An array type has a canonical name if and only if its component type has a canonical name. When an array type has a canonical name, it is equal to the canonical name of the component type followed by "`[]`".

    Returns:
      the canonical name of the underlying class if it exists, and `null` otherwise.
    See Java Language Specification:
      6.7 Fully Qualified Names and Canonical Names
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### isAnonymousClass

    public boolean isAnonymousClass()
    Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is an anonymous class.
    API Note:
      An anonymous class is not a hidden class.
    Returns:
      `true` if and only if this class is an anonymous class.
    See Java Language Specification:
      15.9.5 Anonymous Class Declarations
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### isLocalClass

    public boolean isLocalClass()
    Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is a local class.
    Returns:
      `true` if and only if this class is a local class.
    See Java Language Specification:
      14.3 Local Class and Interface Declarations
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### isMemberClass

    public boolean isMemberClass()
    Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is a member class.
    Returns:
      `true` if and only if this class is a member class.
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.5 Member Class and Interface Declarations
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getClasses

    public Class<?>[] getClasses()
    Returns an array containing `Class` objects representing all the public classes and interfaces that are members of the class represented by this `Class` object. This includes public class and interface members inherited from superclasses and public class and interface members declared by the class. This method returns an array of length 0 if this `Class` object has no public member classes or interfaces. This method also returns an array of length 0 if this `Class` object represents a primitive type, an array class, or void.
    Returns:
      the array of `Class` objects representing the public members of this class
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getFields

    public Field[] getFields()
    Returns an array containing `Field` objects reflecting all the accessible public fields of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface with no accessible public fields, then this method returns an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents a class, then this method returns the public fields of the class and of all its superclasses and superinterfaces.

    If this `Class` object represents an interface, then this method returns the fields of the interface and of all its superinterfaces.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, a primitive type, or void, then this method returns an array of length 0.

    The elements in the returned array are not sorted and are not in any particular order.

    Returns:
      the array of `Field` objects representing the public fields
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.3 Field Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getMethods

    public Method[] getMethods()
    Returns an array containing `Method` objects reflecting all the public methods of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object, including those declared by the class or interface and those inherited from superclasses and superinterfaces.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, then the returned array has a `Method` object for each of the public methods inherited by the array type from `Object`. It does not contain a `Method` object for `clone()`.

    If this `Class` object represents an interface then the returned array does not contain any implicitly declared methods from `Object`. Therefore, if no methods are explicitly declared in this interface or any of its superinterfaces then the returned array has length 0. (Note that a `Class` object which represents a class always has public methods, inherited from `Object`.)

    The returned array never contains methods with names "<init>" or "<clinit>".

    The elements in the returned array are not sorted and are not in any particular order.

    Generally, the result is computed as with the following 4 step algorithm. Let C be the class or interface represented by this `Class` object:

    1. A union of methods is composed of:
       1. C's declared public instance and static methods as returned by `getDeclaredMethods()` and filtered to include only public methods.
       2. If C is a class other than `Object`, then include the result of invoking this algorithm recursively on the superclass of C.
       3. Include the results of invoking this algorithm recursively on all direct superinterfaces of C, but include only instance methods.
    2. Union from step 1 is partitioned into subsets of methods with same signature (name, parameter types) and return type.
    3. Within each such subset only the most specific methods are selected. Let method M be a method from a set of methods with same signature and return type. M is most specific if there is no such method N != M from the same set, such that N is more specific than M. N is more specific than M if:
       1. N is declared by a class and M is declared by an interface; or
       2. N and M are both declared by classes or both by interfaces and N's declaring type is the same as or a subtype of M's declaring type (clearly, if M's and N's declaring types are the same type, then M and N are the same method).
    4. The result of this algorithm is the union of all selected methods from step 3.
    API Note:
      There may be more than one method with a particular name and parameter types in a class because while the Java language forbids a class to declare multiple methods with the same signature but different return types, the Java virtual machine does not. This increased flexibility in the virtual machine can be used to implement various language features. For example, covariant returns can be implemented with bridge methods; the bridge method and the overriding method would have the same signature but different return types.
    Returns:
      the array of `Method` objects representing the public methods of this class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.4 Method Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getConstructors

    public Constructor<?>[] getConstructors()
    Returns an array containing `Constructor` objects reflecting all the public constructors of the class represented by this `Class` object. An array of length 0 is returned if the class has no public constructors, or if the class is an array class, or if the class reflects a primitive type or void.
    API Note:
      While this method returns an array of `Constructor<T>` objects (that is an array of constructors from this class), the return type of this method is `Constructor<?>[]` and not `Constructor<T>[]` as might be expected. This less informative return type is necessary since after being returned from this method, the array could be modified to hold `Constructor` objects for different classes, which would violate the type guarantees of `Constructor<T>[]`.
    Returns:
      the array of `Constructor` objects representing the public constructors of this class
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `getDeclaredConstructors()`

  - ### getField

    public Field getField(String name) throws NoSuchFieldException
    Returns a `Field` object that reflects the specified public member field of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object. The `name` parameter is a `String` specifying the simple name of the desired field.

    The field to be reflected is determined by the algorithm that follows. Let C be the class or interface represented by this `Class` object:

    1. If C declares a public field with the name specified, that is the field to be reflected.
    2. If no field was found in step 1 above, this algorithm is applied recursively to each direct superinterface of C. The direct superinterfaces are searched in the order they were declared.
    3. If no field was found in steps 1 and 2 above, and C has a superclass S, then this algorithm is invoked recursively upon S. If C has no superclass, then a `NoSuchFieldException` is thrown.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, then this method does not find the `length` field of the array type.

    Parameters:
      `name` - the field name
    Returns:
      the `Field` object of this class specified by `name`
    Throws:
      `NoSuchFieldException` - if a field with the specified name is not found.
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.3 Field Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getMethod

    public Method getMethod(String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException
    Returns a `Method` object that reflects the specified public member method of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object. The `name` parameter is a `String` specifying the simple name of the desired method. The `parameterTypes` parameter is an array of `Class` objects that identify the method's formal parameter types, in declared order. If `parameterTypes` is `null`, it is treated as if it were an empty array.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, then this method finds any public method inherited by the array type from `Object` except method `clone()`.

    If this `Class` object represents an interface then this method does not find any implicitly declared method from `Object`. Therefore, if no methods are explicitly declared in this interface or any of its superinterfaces, then this method does not find any method.

    This method does not find any method with name "<init>" or "<clinit>".

    Generally, the method to be reflected is determined by the 4 step algorithm that follows. Let C be the class or interface represented by this `Class` object:

    1. A union of methods is composed of:
       1. C's declared public instance and static methods as returned by `getDeclaredMethods()` and filtered to include only public methods that match given `name` and `parameterTypes`
       2. If C is a class other than `Object`, then include the result of invoking this algorithm recursively on the superclass of C.
       3. Include the results of invoking this algorithm recursively on all direct superinterfaces of C, but include only instance methods.
    2. This union is partitioned into subsets of methods with same return type (the selection of methods from step 1 also guarantees that they have the same method name and parameter types).
    3. Within each such subset only the most specific methods are selected. Let method M be a method from a set of methods with same VM signature (return type, name, parameter types). M is most specific if there is no such method N != M from the same set, such that N is more specific than M. N is more specific than M if:
       1. N is declared by a class and M is declared by an interface; or
       2. N and M are both declared by classes or both by interfaces and N's declaring type is the same as or a subtype of M's declaring type (clearly, if M's and N's declaring types are the same type, then M and N are the same method).
    4. The result of this algorithm is chosen arbitrarily from the methods with most specific return type among all selected methods from step 3. Let R be a return type of a method M from the set of all selected methods from step 3. M is a method with most specific return type if there is no such method N != M from the same set, having return type S != R, such that S is a subtype of R as determined by R.class.`isAssignableFrom(Class)`(S.class).
    API Note:
      There may be more than one method with matching name and parameter types in a class because while the Java language forbids a class to declare multiple methods with the same signature but different return types, the Java virtual machine does not. This increased flexibility in the virtual machine can be used to implement various language features. For example, covariant returns can be implemented with bridge methods; the bridge method and the overriding method would have the same signature but different return types. This method would return the overriding method as it would have a more specific return type.
    Parameters:
      `name` - the name of the method
      `parameterTypes` - the list of parameters, may be `null`
    Returns:
      the `Method` object that matches the specified `name` and `parameterTypes`
    Throws:
      `NoSuchMethodException` - if a matching method is not found, if `parameterTypes` contains `null`, or if the name is "<init>" or "<clinit>"
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.4 Method Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getConstructor

    public Constructor<T> getConstructor(Class<?>... parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException
    Returns a `Constructor` object that reflects the specified public constructor of the class represented by this `Class` object. The `parameterTypes` parameter is an array of `Class` objects that identify the constructor's formal parameter types, in declared order. If this `Class` object represents an inner class declared in a non-static context, the formal parameter types include the explicit enclosing instance as the first parameter.

    The constructor to reflect is the public constructor of the class represented by this `Class` object whose formal parameter types match those specified by `parameterTypes`.

    Parameters:
      `parameterTypes` - the parameter array, may be `null`
    Returns:
      the `Constructor` object of the public constructor that matches the specified `parameterTypes`
    Throws:
      `NoSuchMethodException` - if a matching constructor is not found, if this `Class` object represents an interface, a primitive type, an array class, or void, or if `parameterTypes` contains `null`
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `getDeclaredConstructor(Class[])`

  - ### getDeclaredClasses

    public Class<?>[] getDeclaredClasses()
    Returns an array of `Class` objects reflecting all the classes and interfaces declared as members of the class represented by this `Class` object. This includes public, protected, default (package) access, and private classes and interfaces declared by the class, but excludes inherited classes and interfaces. This method returns an array of length 0 if the class declares no classes or interfaces as members, or if this `Class` object represents a primitive type, an array class, or void.
    Returns:
      the array of `Class` objects representing all the declared members of this class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.5 Member Class and Interface Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getDeclaredFields

    public Field[] getDeclaredFields()
    Returns an array of `Field` objects reflecting all the fields declared by the class or interface represented by this `Class` object. This includes public, protected, default (package) access, and private fields, but excludes inherited fields.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface with no declared fields, then this method returns an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, a primitive type, or void, then this method returns an array of length 0.

    The elements in the returned array are not sorted and are not in any particular order.

    Returns:
      the array of `Field` objects representing all the declared fields of this class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.3 Field Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getRecordComponents

    public RecordComponent[] getRecordComponents()
    Returns an array of `RecordComponent` objects representing all the record components of this record class, or `null` if this class is not a record class.

    The components are returned in the same order that they are declared in the record header. The array is empty if this record class has no components. If the class is not a record class, that is `isRecord()` returns `false`, then this method returns `null`. Conversely, if `isRecord()` returns `true`, then this method returns a non-null value.

    API Note:

      The following method can be used to find the record canonical constructor:

          static <T extends Record> Constructor<T> getCanonicalConstructor(Class<T> cls)
              throws NoSuchMethodException {
            Class<?>[] paramTypes =
              Arrays.stream(cls.getRecordComponents())
                    .map(RecordComponent::getType)
                    .toArray(Class<?>[]::new);
            return cls.getDeclaredConstructor(paramTypes);
          }

    Returns:
      An array of `RecordComponent` objects representing all the record components of this record class, or `null` if this class is not a record class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.10 Record Classes
    Since:
      16

  - ### getDeclaredMethods

    public Method[] getDeclaredMethods()
    Returns an array containing `Method` objects reflecting all the declared methods of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object, including public, protected, default (package) access, and private methods, but excluding inherited methods. The declared methods may include methods not in the source of the class or interface, including bridge methods and other synthetic methods added by compilers.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface that has multiple declared methods with the same name and parameter types, but different return types, then the returned array has a `Method` object for each such method.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface that has a class initialization method "<clinit>", then the returned array does not have a corresponding `Method` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface with no declared methods, then the returned array has length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, a primitive type, or void, then the returned array has length 0.

    The elements in the returned array are not sorted and are not in any particular order.

    Returns:
      the array of `Method` objects representing all the declared methods of this class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.4 Method Declarations
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - Java programming language and JVM modeling in core reflection

  - ### getDeclaredConstructors

    public Constructor<?>[] getDeclaredConstructors()
    Returns an array of `Constructor` objects reflecting all the constructors implicitly or explicitly declared by the class represented by this `Class` object. These are public, protected, default (package) access, and private constructors. The elements in the array returned are not sorted and are not in any particular order. If the class has a default constructor (JLS 8.8.9), it is included in the returned array. If a record class has a canonical constructor (JLS 8.10.4.1, 8.10.4.2), it is included in the returned array. This method returns an array of length 0 if this `Class` object represents an interface, a primitive type, an array class, or void.
    Returns:
      the array of `Constructor` objects representing all the declared constructors of this class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.8 Constructor Declarations
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `getConstructors()`

  - ### getDeclaredField

    public Field getDeclaredField(String name) throws NoSuchFieldException
    Returns a `Field` object that reflects the specified declared field of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object. The `name` parameter is a `String` that specifies the simple name of the desired field.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, then this method does not find the `length` field of the array type.

    Parameters:
      `name` - the name of the field
    Returns:
      the `Field` object for the specified field in this class
    Throws:
      `NoSuchFieldException` - if a field with the specified name is not found.
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.3 Field Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getDeclaredMethod

    public Method getDeclaredMethod(String name, Class<?>... parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException
    Returns a `Method` object that reflects the specified declared method of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object. The `name` parameter is a `String` that specifies the simple name of the desired method, and the `parameterTypes` parameter is an array of `Class` objects that identify the method's formal parameter types, in declared order. If more than one method with the same parameter types is declared in a class, and one of these methods has a return type that is more specific than any of the others, that method is returned; otherwise one of the methods is chosen arbitrarily. If the name is "<init>" or "<clinit>" a `NoSuchMethodException` is raised.

    If this `Class` object represents an array type, then this method does not find the `clone()` method.

    Parameters:
      `name` - the name of the method
      `parameterTypes` - the parameter array, may be `null`
    Returns:
      the `Method` object for the method of this class matching the specified name and parameters
    Throws:
      `NoSuchMethodException` - if a matching method is not found, if `parameterTypes` contains `null`, or if the name is "<init>" or "<clinit>"
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.2 Class Members
      8.4 Method Declarations
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getDeclaredConstructor

    public Constructor<T> getDeclaredConstructor(Class<?>... parameterTypes) throws NoSuchMethodException
    Returns a `Constructor` object that reflects the specified constructor of the class represented by this `Class` object. The `parameterTypes` parameter is an array of `Class` objects that identify the constructor's formal parameter types, in declared order. If this `Class` object represents an inner class declared in a non-static context, the formal parameter types include the explicit enclosing instance as the first parameter.
    Parameters:
      `parameterTypes` - the parameter array, may be `null`
    Returns:
      The `Constructor` object for the constructor with the specified parameter list
    Throws:
      `NoSuchMethodException` - if a matching constructor is not found, if this `Class` object represents an interface, a primitive type, an array class, or void, or if `parameterTypes` contains `null`
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `getConstructor(Class[])`

  - ### getResourceAsStream

    public InputStream getResourceAsStream(String name)
    Finds a resource with a given name.

    If this class is in a named `Module` then this method will attempt to find the resource in the module. This is done by delegating to the module's class loader `findResource(String,String)` method, invoking it with the module name and the absolute name of the resource. Resources in named modules are subject to the rules for encapsulation specified in the `Module` `getResourceAsStream` method and so this method returns `null` when the resource is a non-"`.class`" resource in a package that is not open to the caller's module.

    Otherwise, if this class is not in a named module then the rules for searching resources associated with a given class are implemented by the defining class loader of the class. This method delegates to this `Class` object's class loader. If this `Class` object was loaded by the bootstrap class loader, the method delegates to `ClassLoader.getSystemResourceAsStream(String)`.

    Before delegation, an absolute resource name is constructed from the given resource name using this algorithm:

    - If the `name` begins with a `'/'` (`'\u002f'`), then the absolute name of the resource is the portion of the `name` following the `'/'`.
    - Otherwise, the absolute name is of the following form:

      > `modified_package_name/name`

      Where the `modified_package_name` is the package name of this object with `'/'` substituted for `'.'` (`'\u002e'`).

    Parameters:
      `name` - name of the desired resource
    Returns:
      A `InputStream` object; `null` if no resource with this name is found, or the resource is in a package that is not open to at least the caller module.
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `Module.getResourceAsStream(String)`

  - ### getResource

    public URL getResource(String name)
    Finds a resource with a given name.

    If this class is in a named `Module` then this method will attempt to find the resource in the module. This is done by delegating to the module's class loader `findResource(String,String)` method, invoking it with the module name and the absolute name of the resource. Resources in named modules are subject to the rules for encapsulation specified in the `Module` `getResourceAsStream` method and so this method returns `null` when the resource is a non-"`.class`" resource in a package that is not open to the caller's module.

    Otherwise, if this class is not in a named module then the rules for searching resources associated with a given class are implemented by the defining class loader of the class. This method delegates to this `Class` object's class loader. If this `Class` object was loaded by the bootstrap class loader, the method delegates to `ClassLoader.getSystemResource(String)`.

    Before delegation, an absolute resource name is constructed from the given resource name using this algorithm:

    - If the `name` begins with a `'/'` (`'\u002f'`), then the absolute name of the resource is the portion of the `name` following the `'/'`.
    - Otherwise, the absolute name is of the following form:

      > `modified_package_name/name`

      Where the `modified_package_name` is the package name of this object with `'/'` substituted for `'.'` (`'\u002e'`).

    Parameters:
      `name` - name of the desired resource
    Returns:
      A `URL` object; `null` if no resource with this name is found, the resource cannot be located by a URL, or the resource is in a package that is not open to at least the caller module.
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### getProtectionDomain

    public ProtectionDomain getProtectionDomain()
    Returns the `ProtectionDomain` of this class.
    Returns:
      the ProtectionDomain of this class
    Since:
      1.2
    See Also:
      - `ProtectionDomain`

  - ### desiredAssertionStatus

    public boolean desiredAssertionStatus()
    Returns the assertion status that would be assigned to this class if it were to be initialized at the time this method is invoked. If this class has had its assertion status set, the most recent setting will be returned; otherwise, if any package default assertion status pertains to this class, the most recent setting for the most specific pertinent package default assertion status is returned; otherwise, if this class is not a system class (i.e., it has a class loader) its class loader's default assertion status is returned; otherwise, the system class default assertion status is returned.
    API Note:
      Few programmers will have any need for this method; it is provided for the benefit of the JDK itself. (It allows a class to determine at the time that it is initialized whether assertions should be enabled.) Note that this method is not guaranteed to return the actual assertion status that was (or will be) associated with the specified class when it was (or will be) initialized.
    Returns:
      the desired assertion status of the specified class.
    Since:
      1.4
    See Also:
      - `ClassLoader.setClassAssertionStatus(String, boolean)`
      - `ClassLoader.setPackageAssertionStatus(String, boolean)`
      - `ClassLoader.setDefaultAssertionStatus(boolean)`

  - ### isEnum

    public boolean isEnum()
    Returns true if and only if this class was declared as an enum in the source code. Note that `Enum` is not itself an enum class. Also note that if an enum constant is declared with a class body, the class of that enum constant object is an anonymous class and not the class of the declaring enum class. The `Enum.getDeclaringClass()` method of an enum constant can be used to get the class of the enum class declaring the constant.
    Returns:
      true if and only if this class was declared as an enum in the source code
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.9.1 Enum Constants
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### isRecord

    public boolean isRecord()
    Returns `true` if and only if this class is a record class.

    The direct superclass of a record class is `java.lang.Record`. A record class is final. A record class has (possibly zero) record components; `getRecordComponents()` returns a non-null but possibly empty value for a record.

    Note that class `Record` is not a record class and thus invoking this method on class `Record` returns `false`.

    Returns:
      true if and only if this class is a record class, otherwise false
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.10 Record Classes
    Since:
      16

  - ### getEnumConstants

    public T[] getEnumConstants()
    Returns the elements of this enum class or null if this Class object does not represent an enum class.
    Returns:
      an array containing the values comprising the enum class represented by this `Class` object in the order they're declared, or null if this `Class` object does not represent an enum class
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.9.1 Enum Constants
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### cast

    public T cast(Object obj)
    Casts an object to the class or interface represented by this `Class` object.
    Parameters:
      `obj` - the object to be cast, may be `null`
    Returns:
      the object after casting, or null if obj is null
    Throws:
      `ClassCastException` - if the object is not null and is not assignable to the type T.
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### asSubclass

    public <U> Class<? extends U> asSubclass(Class<U> clazz)
    Casts this `Class` object to represent a subclass of the class represented by the specified class object. Checks that the cast is valid, and throws a `ClassCastException` if it is not. If this method succeeds, it always returns a reference to this `Class` object.

    This method is useful when a client needs to "narrow" the type of a `Class` object to pass it to an API that restricts the `Class` objects that it is willing to accept. A cast would generate a compile-time warning, as the correctness of the cast could not be checked at runtime (because generic types are implemented by erasure).

    Type Parameters:
      `U` - the type to cast this `Class` object to
    Parameters:
      `clazz` - the class of the type to cast this `Class` object to
    Returns:
      this `Class` object, cast to represent a subclass of the specified class object.
    Throws:
      `ClassCastException` - if this `Class` object does not represent a subclass of the specified class (here "subclass" includes the class itself).
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getAnnotation

    public <A extends Annotation> A getAnnotation(Class<A> annotationClass)
    Returns this element's annotation for the specified type if such an annotation is present, else null.

    Note that any annotation returned by this method is a declaration annotation.

    Specified by:
      `getAnnotation` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Type Parameters:
      `A` - the type of the annotation to query for and return if present
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
    Returns:
      this element's annotation for the specified annotation type if present on this element, else null
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### isAnnotationPresent

    public boolean isAnnotationPresent(Class<? extends Annotation> annotationClass)
    Returns true if an annotation for the specified type is present on this element, else false. This method is designed primarily for convenient access to marker annotations.

    The truth value returned by this method is equivalent to: `getAnnotation(annotationClass) != null`

    Specified by:
      `isAnnotationPresent` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
    Returns:
      true if an annotation for the specified annotation type is present on this element, else false
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getAnnotationsByType

    public <A extends Annotation> A[] getAnnotationsByType(Class<A> annotationClass)
    Returns annotations that are associated with this element. If there are no annotations associated with this element, the return value is an array of length 0. The difference between this method and `AnnotatedElement.getAnnotation(Class)` is that this method detects if its argument is a repeatable annotation type (JLS 9.6), and if so, attempts to find one or more annotations of that type by "looking through" a container annotation. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned array; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers.

    Note that any annotations returned by this method are declaration annotations.

    Specified by:
      `getAnnotationsByType` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Type Parameters:
      `A` - the type of the annotation to query for and return if present
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
    Returns:
      all this element's annotations for the specified annotation type if associated with this element, else an array of length zero
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### getAnnotations

    public Annotation[] getAnnotations()
    Returns annotations that are present on this element. If there are no annotations present on this element, the return value is an array of length 0. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned array; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers.

    Note that any annotations returned by this method are declaration annotations.

    Specified by:
      `getAnnotations` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Returns:
      annotations present on this element
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getDeclaredAnnotation

    public <A extends Annotation> A getDeclaredAnnotation(Class<A> annotationClass)
    Returns this element's annotation for the specified type if such an annotation is directly present, else null. This method ignores inherited annotations. (Returns null if no annotations are directly present on this element.)

    Note that any annotation returned by this method is a declaration annotation.

    Specified by:
      `getDeclaredAnnotation` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Type Parameters:
      `A` - the type of the annotation to query for and return if directly present
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
    Returns:
      this element's annotation for the specified annotation type if directly present on this element, else null
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### getDeclaredAnnotationsByType

    public <A extends Annotation> A[] getDeclaredAnnotationsByType(Class<A> annotationClass)
    Returns this element's annotation(s) for the specified type if such annotations are either directly present or indirectly present. This method ignores inherited annotations. If there are no specified annotations directly or indirectly present on this element, the return value is an array of length 0. The difference between this method and `AnnotatedElement.getDeclaredAnnotation(Class)` is that this method detects if its argument is a repeatable annotation type (JLS 9.6), and if so, attempts to find one or more annotations of that type by "looking through" a container annotation if one is present. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned array; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers.

    Note that any annotations returned by this method are declaration annotations.

    Specified by:
      `getDeclaredAnnotationsByType` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Type Parameters:
      `A` - the type of the annotation to query for and return if directly or indirectly present
    Parameters:
      `annotationClass` - the Class object corresponding to the annotation type
    Returns:
      all this element's annotations for the specified annotation type if directly or indirectly present on this element, else an array of length zero
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### getDeclaredAnnotations

    public Annotation[] getDeclaredAnnotations()
    Returns annotations that are directly present on this element. This method ignores inherited annotations. If there are no annotations directly present on this element, the return value is an array of length 0. The caller of this method is free to modify the returned array; it will have no effect on the arrays returned to other callers.

    Note that any annotations returned by this method are declaration annotations.

    Specified by:
      `getDeclaredAnnotations` in interface `AnnotatedElement`
    Returns:
      annotations directly present on this element
    Since:
      1.5

  - ### getAnnotatedSuperclass

    public AnnotatedType getAnnotatedSuperclass()
    Returns an `AnnotatedType` object that represents the use of a type to specify the superclass of the entity represented by this `Class` object. (The use of type Foo to specify the superclass in '... extends Foo' is distinct from the declaration of class Foo.)

    If this `Class` object represents a class whose declaration does not explicitly indicate an annotated superclass, then the return value is an `AnnotatedType` object representing an element with no annotations.

    If this `Class` represents either the `Object` class, an interface type, an array type, a primitive type, or void, the return value is `null`.

    Returns:
      an object representing the superclass
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### getAnnotatedInterfaces

    public AnnotatedType[] getAnnotatedInterfaces()
    Returns an array of `AnnotatedType` objects that represent the use of types to specify superinterfaces of the entity represented by this `Class` object. (The use of type Foo to specify a superinterface in '... implements Foo' is distinct from the declaration of interface Foo.)

    If this `Class` object represents a class, the return value is an array containing objects representing the uses of interface types to specify interfaces implemented by the class. The order of the objects in the array corresponds to the order of the interface types used in the 'implements' clause of the declaration of this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents an interface, the return value is an array containing objects representing the uses of interface types to specify interfaces directly extended by the interface. The order of the objects in the array corresponds to the order of the interface types used in the 'extends' clause of the declaration of this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface whose declaration does not explicitly indicate any annotated superinterfaces, the return value is an array of length 0.

    If this `Class` object represents either the `Object` class, an array type, a primitive type, or void, the return value is an array of length 0.

    Returns:
      an array representing the superinterfaces
    Since:
      1.8

  - ### getNestHost

    public Class<?> getNestHost()
    Returns the nest host of the nest to which the class or interface represented by this `Class` object belongs. Every class and interface belongs to exactly one nest. If the nest host of this class or interface has previously been determined, then this method returns the nest host. If the nest host of this class or interface has not previously been determined, then this method determines the nest host using the algorithm of JVMS 5.4.4, and returns it. Often, a class or interface belongs to a nest consisting only of itself, in which case this method returns `this` to indicate that the class or interface is the nest host.

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, an array type, or `void`, then this method returns `this`, indicating that the represented entity belongs to the nest consisting only of itself, and is the nest host.

    Returns:
      the nest host of this class or interface
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.7.28 The `NestHost` Attribute
      4.7.29 The `NestMembers` Attribute
      5.4.4 Access Control
    Since:
      11

  - ### isNestmateOf

    public boolean isNestmateOf(Class<?> c)
    Determines if the given `Class` is a nestmate of the class or interface represented by this `Class` object. Two classes or interfaces are nestmates if they have the same nest host.
    Parameters:
      `c` - the class to check
    Returns:
      `true` if this class and `c` are members of the same nest; and `false` otherwise.
    Since:
      11

  - ### getNestMembers

    public Class<?>[] getNestMembers()
    Returns an array containing `Class` objects representing all the classes and interfaces that are members of the nest to which the class or interface represented by this `Class` object belongs. First, this method obtains the nest host, `H`, of the nest to which the class or interface represented by this `Class` object belongs. The zeroth element of the returned array is `H`. Then, for each class or interface `C` which is recorded by `H` as being a member of its nest, this method attempts to obtain the `Class` object for `C` (using the defining class loader of the current `Class` object), and then obtains the nest host of the nest to which `C` belongs. The classes and interfaces which are recorded by `H` as being members of its nest, and for which `H` can be determined as their nest host, are indicated by subsequent elements of the returned array. The order of such elements is unspecified. Duplicates are permitted.

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, an array type, or `void`, then this method returns a single-element array containing `this`.

    API Note:
      The returned array includes only the nest members recorded in the `NestMembers` attribute, and not any hidden classes that were added to the nest via `Lookup::defineHiddenClass`.
    Returns:
      an array of all classes and interfaces in the same nest as this class or interface
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.7.28 The `NestHost` Attribute
      4.7.29 The `NestMembers` Attribute
    Since:
      11
    See Also:
      - `getNestHost()`

  - ### descriptorString

    public String descriptorString()
    Returns the descriptor string of the entity (class, interface, array class, primitive type, or `void`) represented by this `Class` object.

    If this `Class` object represents a class or interface, not an array class, then:

    - If the class or interface is not hidden, then the result is a field descriptor (JVMS 4.3.2) for the class or interface. Calling `ClassDesc::ofDescriptor` with the result descriptor string produces a `ClassDesc` describing this class or interface.
    - If the class or interface is hidden, then the result is a string of the form:

      > `"L" +` N `+ "." + <suffix> + ";"`

      where N is the binary name encoded in internal form indicated by the `class` file passed to `Lookup::defineHiddenClass`, and `<suffix>` is an unqualified name. A hidden class or interface has no nominal descriptor. The result string is not a type descriptor.

    If this `Class` object represents an array class, then the result is a string consisting of one or more '`[`' characters representing the depth of the array nesting, followed by the descriptor string of the element type.

    - If the element type is not a hidden class or interface, then this array class can be described nominally. Calling `ClassDesc::ofDescriptor` with the result descriptor string produces a `ClassDesc` describing this array class.
    - If the element type is a hidden class or interface, then this array class cannot be described nominally. The result string is not a type descriptor.

    If this `Class` object represents a primitive type or `void`, then the result is a field descriptor string which is a one-letter code corresponding to a primitive type or `void` (`"B", "C", "D", "F", "I", "J", "S", "Z", "V"`) (JVMS 4.3.2).

    Specified by:
      `descriptorString` in interface `TypeDescriptor`
    Returns:
      the descriptor string for this `Class` object
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.3.2 Field Descriptors
    Since:
      12

  - ### componentType

    public Class<?> componentType()
    Returns the component type of this `Class`, if it describes an array type, or `null` otherwise.
    Specified by:
      `componentType` in interface `TypeDescriptor.OfField<T>`
    Implementation Requirements:
      Equivalent to `getComponentType()`.
    Returns:
      a `Class` describing the component type, or `null` if this `Class` does not describe an array type
    Since:
      12

  - ### arrayType

    public Class<?> arrayType()
    Returns a `Class` for an array type whose component type is described by this Class.
    Specified by:
      `arrayType` in interface `TypeDescriptor.OfField<T>`
    Returns:
      a `Class` describing the array type
    Throws:
      `UnsupportedOperationException` - if this component type is void or if the number of dimensions of the resulting array type would exceed 255.
    See Java Virtual Machine Specification:
      4.3.2 Field Descriptors
      4.4.1 The `CONSTANT_Class_info` Structure
    Since:
      12

  - ### describeConstable

    public Optional<ClassDesc> describeConstable()
    Returns a nominal descriptor for this instance, if one can be constructed, or an empty `Optional` if one cannot be.
    Specified by:
      `describeConstable` in interface `Constable`
    Returns:
      An `Optional` containing the resulting nominal descriptor, or an empty `Optional` if one cannot be constructed.
    Since:
      12

  - ### isHidden

    public boolean isHidden()
    Returns `true` if and only if the underlying class is a hidden class.
    Returns:
      `true` if and only if this class is a hidden class.
    Since:
      15
    See Also:
      - `MethodHandles.Lookup.defineHiddenClass(byte[], boolean, MethodHandles.Lookup.ClassOption...)`
      - Hidden Classes

  - ### getPermittedSubclasses

    public Class<?>[] getPermittedSubclasses()
    Returns an array containing `Class` objects representing the direct subinterfaces or subclasses permitted to extend or implement this class or interface if it is sealed. The order of such elements is unspecified. The array is empty if this sealed class or interface has no permitted subclass. If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, `void`, an array type, or a class or interface that is not sealed, that is `isSealed()` returns `false`, then this method returns `null`. Conversely, if `isSealed()` returns `true`, then this method returns a non-null value. For each class or interface `C` which is recorded as a permitted direct subinterface or subclass of this class or interface, this method attempts to obtain the `Class` object for `C` (using the defining class loader of the current `Class` object). The `Class` objects which can be obtained and which are direct subinterfaces or subclasses of this class or interface, are indicated by elements of the returned array. If a `Class` object cannot be obtained, it is silently ignored, and not included in the result array.
    Returns:
      an array of `Class` objects of the permitted subclasses of this class or interface, or `null` if this class or interface is not sealed.
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.1 Class Declarations
      9.1 Interface Declarations
    Since:
      17

  - ### isSealed

    public boolean isSealed()
    Returns `true` if and only if this `Class` object represents a sealed class or interface. If this `Class` object represents a primitive type, `void`, or an array type, this method returns `false`. A sealed class or interface has (possibly zero) permitted subclasses; `getPermittedSubclasses()` returns a non-null but possibly empty value for a sealed class or interface.
    Returns:
      `true` if and only if this `Class` object represents a sealed class or interface.
    See Java Language Specification:
      8.1 Class Declarations
      9.1 Interface Declarations
    Since:
      17