TypeVariable is the common superinterface for type variables of kinds.
A type variable is created the first time it is needed by a reflective
method, as specified in this package. If a type variable t is referenced
by a type (i.e, class, interface or annotation type) T, and T is declared
by the nth enclosing class of T (see JLS 8.1.2), then the creation of t
requires the resolution (see JVMS 5) of the ith enclosing class of T,
for i = 0 to n, inclusive. Creating a type variable must not cause the
creation of its bounds. Repeated creation of a type variable has no effect.
Multiple objects may be instantiated at run-time to
represent a given type variable. Even though a type variable is
created only once, this does not imply any requirement to cache
instances representing the type variable. However, all instances
representing a type variable must be equal() to each other.
As a consequence, users of type variables must not rely on the identity
of instances of classes implementing this interface.
The type parameter D represents the type of generic declaration
that declared the underlying type variable.
Returns an array of
Type objects representing the
upper bound(s) of this type variable. Note that if no upper bound is
explicitly declared, the upper bound is
Object.
For each upper bound B:
- if B is a parameterized
type or a type variable, it is created, (see ParameterizedType
for the
details of the creation process for parameterized types).
- Otherwise, B is resolved.
Returns the GenericDeclaration object representing the
generic declaration declared this type variable.
Returns the name of this type variable, as it occurs in the source code.