java - What does int.class mean -

in java int, float , etc., primitive types. wrapper classes used in case need use generics. still following declaration works in java,

 class<integer> intclass=int.class 

how can call int.class though primitive type?

a primitive becoming object

for primitives, there class objects available constants named type in corresponding wrapper classes -- i.e. int.class changed java.lang.integer.type . other types, compiler creates private member variable in class being compiled hold class object, , generates code initialize member using class.forname() .

found discussion

and nice discussion here , example covered in link.

a few words there :

how can class primitive? let's confuse things bit more. can access class object representing defined class coding, say:

equation.class // returns equation class object 

but, can say:

int.class 

obtain class object name "int". note have not sent getclass() method object; have used reserved word built-in primitive type (int) and, using dot notation, accessed class "field." , returns class object!