All super classes of a class

Question

I have a class that extends to another class and that class extends to another class.

class 1 extends class 2 
class 2 extends class 3 
class 3 extends class 4 
class 4 extends class 5 
class 5 extends class 6 

Now I want to find all super classes of class 1.

Anyone know how I could do that in java?

Answer 1

You can use getSuperclass() up to the Object.

But read the doc first to understand what it returns in the case of interfaces etc. There are more methods to play with on the same page.

Answer 2

As a variation, with a tight loop, you can use a for loop instead:

for (Class super_class = target_class.getSuperclass();
     super_class != null;
     super_class = super_class.getSuperclass())
  // use super class here

Answer 3

The other answers are right about using Class.getSuperclass(). But you have to do it repeatedly. Something like

Class superClass = getSuperclass();
while(superClass != null) {
    // do stuff here
    superClass = superClass.getSuperclass();
}

Answer 4

Use reflection:

public static List<Class> getSuperClasses(Object o) {
  List<Class> classList = new ArrayList<Class>();
  Class class= o.getClass();
  Class superclass = class.getSuperclass();
  classList.add(superclass);
  while (superclass != null) {   
    class = superclass;
    superclass = class.getSuperclass();
    classList.add(superclass);
  }
  return classList;
}

Answer 5

Recursively call getSuperclass starting from the instance of Class1 until you reach Object.

Answer 6

Use Class.getSuperClass() to traverse the hierarchy.

Class C = getClass();
while (C != null) {
  System.out.println(C.getName());
  C = C.getSuperclass();
}