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Arrays.asList() and guessing type

 
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from Thinking in Java:


Why does it (Arrays.asList) make a guess about the type? Upcasting doesn't work? How does it work?
 
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Hi,

The declaration of asList is : public static <T> List<T> asList(T... a)
So when you write : List<Snow> snow2 = Arrays.asList(a); the compiler expects that a is an array of Snow. OK
When you give a to asList, the compiler has to find the type of a.
With asList(new Light(), new Heavy()); the compiler finds that the "common denominator" for the type is Powder and not Snow ! So it complains.
With asList(new Powder(), new Crusty()); the common denominator is ... Snow, so the compiler is happy.

For addAll the declaration is : boolean addAll(Collection<? extends E> c)
So, in a List of Snow, you can add any object whose the type extends Snow.
Tht's why


List<Snow> snow3 = new ArrayList<Snow>();
Collections.addAll(snow3, new Light(), new Heavy());


works fine.

I hope it's quite clear and above all that I didn't any mistake.
 
Piotr Milewski
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So... when we write:

"Arrays.asList" doesn't see "List<Snow> snow1", so it has to presume the type only by the part: "Arrays.asList(new Crusty(), new Slush(), new Powder())"

OK, thanks
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