Equivalent of const(C++) in Java

Question

I was wondering if there was an equivalent to c++'s const in Java. I understand the final keyword, but unfortunately I cannot use that to declare a functions return value final. Instead, it always ensures the function cannot be overridden, correct?

Basically, I want to make sure a given returned class cannot be modified and is read only. Is that possible in Java?

Answer 1

No

Java does not support the concept of constness as C/C++ use it.

The Java equivalent to this Foo class cannot be written.

class Foo
{
public:
   std::vector<Bar>& bars( void ) const
   { return m_bars; }
private:
   std::vector<Bar> m_bars;
};

However, Java has another approach, using interfaces.

class Foo
{
public:
   ReadonlyList<Bar> bars( )
   { return m_bars; }
private:
   ArrayList<Bar> m_bars;
};

Java's final keyword is more similar to Foo * const than any other c++ concept. Note that Foo const* is very common and useful, while Foo * const is less so.

Answer 2

Java does not support const-qualification of references to objects.

Workarounds include the following:

• Immutable objects.
• Unmodifiable views of modifiable objects (for example, those returned by Collections.unmodifiable*()).
• Read-only interface types
• Defensive copies.

Immutable objects prevent modification by the recipient, but they also prevent modification through any reference. They are not equivalent to C++ const pointers/references.

Closest are read-only interface types. You could map a const-correct C++ class to two Java units, one an interface with only the const-qualified methods.

This is sometimes useful, to control what can modify an instance of the class. However, it's not done as frequently as in C++.

Answer 3

I think you want a immutable object. An object is considered immutable if its state cannot change after it is constructed.

To do that you need

• ensure the class cannot be overridden - make the class final, or use static factories and keep constructors private
• make fields private and final force callers to construct an object completely in a single step, instead of using a no-argument constructor combined with subsequent calls to setXXX methods

• do not provide any methods which can change the state of the object in any way - not just setXXX methods, but any method which can change state.

  public final class SomeThing{

  public Something(String name) {
      fname=name
  }
  
  private final String fName;
  
  public String getName() {
        return fName;
  }
  

  }

Answer 4

Java specifically discarded some features of C++, const is one of it. This conscious decision can be reflected by the fact that const is a reserved word in Java (but not used)

The designers probably thought that the feature is really annoying and not really useful. I had that feeling when I was a C++ coder. Certain kind of static checking is just way too much.

Answer 5

Basically, I want to make sure a given returned class cannot be modified and is read only. Is that possible in Java?

Not directly, but one workaround is an immutable object.

Example -

public final Foo{

    private final String s;

    public Foo(String s){
        this.s = s;
    }

    // Only provide an accessor!
    public String getString(){
        return s;
    }
}

Answer 6

The "final" keyword means const. But the use of final in java is much different than C++ Only fields or local variables can be final. A final class is not a const class but a sealed class that cannot be inherited. A final method is a sealed method, a method that cannot be overridden.

In C++ there is the concept of "const type" but in java you have only the concept of const field, const method (not-overridable) and const class (not-inheritable).