Generics

[rimzy abdulkader]

import java.util.*;
class A{

}
class B extends A{

}
class C extends B{
}
class T{
public static void main(String [] args){

List<? super B>l=new LinkedList<A>();

A a=new A();
B b=new B();
C c=new C();
l.add(c);



}


}


it gives error . why??

[Alina Petra]

I'm not getting any error. What error are you referring to?

[rimzy abdulkader]

try to add

l.add(a);

[Alina Petra]

You can not add an object of type A to the list. You are allowed to add just objects of type B or subtypes of B to the list. Imagine that you instantiate your collection with new LinkedList<B>(). What would happen if you were allowed to add an object of type A to it?

[prashanth kumar]

I too am confused with this question
>>List<? super B>l=new LinkedList<A>();

The abobe declaration means that the list can accept B and any supertypes of B.And according to the code A is supertype of B??isnt it??

Thanks
Prashanth

[Alina Petra]

Yes, you are right. Your list (List<? super B> can take any list with the type being B or supertype of B. Your list could be LinkedList<B> or LinkedList<A>. But when you try to add something to the list, the type of the object that you add must pass the IS-A B relationship. Think what would happen if you added an object of type A and instantiated your list: List<? super B> l = new LinkedList<B>(). If you were allowed to add objects of type A to the list, you'd get a list of type B that would contain objects of type A. This is Not ok.

[Venkat Sidh]

That means new LinkedList<A>(); can hold A,B,C but on left hand side List<? super B>l states that it is going to hold only B or subclass of B (or anything with B as a Super class)

[prashanth kumar]

>>List<? super B>l states that it is going to hold only B or subclass of B (or >>anything with B as a Super class)

I dont think the above statement is right...It means that it is going to hold B and any superclasses of B...

For your argument to be valid,the declaration should have been
<? extends B>

Let me know if iam wrong..

I still cant understand this anser for the above question.I believe i have a common problem with generics
Rgds
Prashanth

[Keith Lynn]

I also compiled the code without error.

[prashanth kumar]

Try adding this line
l.add(a);

Cheers
Prashanth

[Keith Lynn]

Originally posted by prashanth kumar:
Try adding this line
l.add(a);

Cheers
Prashanth

I was speaking about the original problem.

[Andrea Z�rcher]

For your argument to be valid,the declaration should have been
<? extends B>

Hi Prashanth

It would be a bad idea to write <? extends B>. Upper-bounded wildcards result in read-only collections while lower-bounded wildcards result in write-only collections!

Andrea

[Venkat Sidh]

Prashanth,

I dont think the above statement is right...It means that it is going to hold B and any superclasses of B...

What I was saying is subclass of B that means anything with B as a super class.

[Naveen Zed]

I also compiled,the code without error.

[prashanth kumar]

Kindly look at the third post in this thread to know which code to compile

Regards
Prashanth