why primitive variable can accept object ?

[Alvin chew]

hi, good day , i wondering why following code is valid ?

int num = (Integer) request.getAttribute("showform");
 

showform is an integer which create with "new Integer(2)", so it is "2"

my understanding is request.getAttribute() will return object , it pretty well we can have cast with "Integer" , because "Integer" is class ...so it should be allowed

but my question is after the casting ..the object will become "Integer" Object, but then why we can simply just put it into primitive type "int" ?

thank you for answering

[Martin Mathis]

What version of the JDK are you using? I know one of the new 1.5 features is auto boxing/unboxing which should make what you're code is doing allowable.
[ December 24, 2004: Message edited by: Martin Mathis ]

[Alvin chew]

oopss...i recently change to 1.5 ....so let say for 1.4 is not allow right ?

thanks, Martin Mathis for answering