instanceof operator

"Hello, Amigo! You've already met the instanceof operator. Today I'm going to tell you how and where it can be used. instanceof is a very simple and efficient operator."

"That sounds like an ad!"

"It really is very simple. It's used like this: «object» instanceof «class»."

It checks whether an object is an instance of a particular class. It's easier than explaining it. Look at this example:

Object o = new Integer(3);
boolean isInt = o instanceof Integer;

Object o = "Mama";
boolean isInt = o instanceof Integer;

InputStream is = new FileInputStream("");
boolean isFIS = is instanceof FileInputStream;

"Yes, that is very simple."

"This operator also accounts for inheritance. Check it out."

class Animal
{
}
class Cat extends Animal
{
}
class Tiger extends Cat
{
}

Object o = new Tiger();
boolean isCat = o instanceof Cat;
boolean isTiger = o instanceof Tiger;
boolean isAnimal = o instanceof Animal;

Object o = new Animal();
boolean isCat = o instanceof Cat;
boolean isTiger = o instanceof Tiger;
boolean isAnimal = o instanceof Animal;

And even interfaces:

interface Moveable
{
}
class Cat
{
}
class TomCat extends Cat implements Moveable
{
}

Cat o = new TomCat();
boolean isCat = o instanceof Cat;
boolean isMoveable = o instanceof Moveable;
boolean isTom = o instanceof TomCat;

Cat o = new Cat();
boolean isCat = o instanceof Cat;
boolean isMoveable = o instanceof Moveable;
boolean isTom = o instanceof TomCat;

The instanceof operator looks like this: a instanceof B.

In other words, the instanceof operator will return true if:

1) variable a stores a reference to an object of type B

2) variable a stores a reference to an object whose class inherits B

3) variable a stores a reference to an object that implements interface B

Otherwise, the instanceof operator will return false.

"Got it. So why is this necessary, Uncle Rishi?"

"Ellie's going to tell you about that today. This is a really nice operator. You'll be convinced of that today."