Callback functions in Java

Question

Is there a way to pass a call back function in a Java method?

The behavior I'm trying to mimic is a .Net Delegate being passed to a function.

I've seen people suggesting creating a separate object but that seems overkill, however I am aware that sometimes overkill is the only way to do things.

Answer 1

A little nitpicking:

I've seem people suggesting creating a separate object but that seems overkill

Passing a callback includes creating a separate object in pretty much any OO language, so it can hardly be considered overkill. What you probably mean is that in Java, it requires you to create a separate class, which is more verbose (and more resource-intensive) than in languages with explicit first-class functions or closures. However, anonymous classes at least reduce the verbosity and can be used inline.

Answer 2

I've recently started doing something like this:

public class Main {
    @FunctionalInterface
    public interface NotDotNetDelegate {
        int doSomething(int a, int b);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // in java 8 (lambdas):
        System.out.println(functionThatTakesDelegate((a, b) -> {return a*b;} , 10, 20));

    }

    public static int functionThatTakesDelegate(NotDotNetDelegate del, int a, int b) {
        // ...
        return del.doSomething(a, b);
    }
}

Answer 3

public class HelloWorldAnonymousClasses {

    //this is an interface with only one method
    interface HelloWorld {
        public void printSomething(String something);
    }

    //this is a simple function called from main()
    public void sayHello() {

    //this is an object with interface reference followed by the definition of the interface itself

        new HelloWorld() {
            public void printSomething(String something) {
                System.out.println("Hello " + something);
            }
        }.printSomething("Abhi");

     //imagine this as an object which is calling the function'printSomething()"
    }

    public static void main(String... args) {
        HelloWorldAnonymousClasses myApp =
                new HelloWorldAnonymousClasses();
        myApp.sayHello();
    }
}
//Output is "Hello Abhi"

Basically if you want to make the object of an interface it is not possible, because interface cannot have objects.

The option is to let some class implement the interface and then call that function using the object of that class. But this approach is really verbose.

Alternatively, write new HelloWorld() (*oberserve this is an interface not a class) and then follow it up with the defination of the interface methods itself. (*This defination is in reality the anonymous class). Then you get the object reference through which you can call the method itself.

Answer 4

You also can do theCallback using the Delegate pattern:

Callback.java

public interface Callback {
    void onItemSelected(int position);
}

PagerActivity.java

public class PagerActivity implements Callback {

    CustomPagerAdapter mPagerAdapter;

    public PagerActivity() {
        mPagerAdapter = new CustomPagerAdapter(this);
    }

    @Override
    public void onItemSelected(int position) {
        // Do something
        System.out.println("Item " + postion + " selected")
    }
}

CustomPagerAdapter.java

public class CustomPagerAdapter {
    private static final int DEFAULT_POSITION = 1;
    public CustomPagerAdapter(Callback callback) {
        callback.onItemSelected(DEFAULT_POSITION);
    }
}

Answer 5

If you mean somthing like .NET anonymous delegate, I think Java's anonymous class can be used as well.

public class Main {

    public interface Visitor{
        int doJob(int a, int b);
    }


    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Visitor adder = new Visitor(){
            public int doJob(int a, int b) {
                return a + b;
            }
        };

        Visitor multiplier = new Visitor(){
            public int doJob(int a, int b) {
                return a*b;
            }
        };

        System.out.println(adder.doJob(10, 20));
        System.out.println(multiplier.doJob(10, 20));

    }
}

Answer 6

This is very easy in Java 8 with lambdas.

public interface Callback {
    void callback();
}

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        methodThatExpectsACallback(() -> System.out.println("I am the callback."));
    }
    private static void methodThatExpectsACallback(Callback callback){
        System.out.println("I am the method.");
        callback.callback();
    }
}