Java - Sorting out subclass from ArrayList of superclass

Question

I have an ArrayList which contains objects of the super class and some subclass objects. Let's call them subclass1 and subclass2.

Is there a way I can go ArrayList and discern which objects are SuperClass, subclass1 and subclass2. So I can put them into ArrayList and ArrayList.

This is an overly simplified version but it demonstrates what I'm hoping to do.

    public class food{
    private String name;
    public food(String name){
        this.name = name;
    }
}   

public class pudding extends food{
    public pudding(String name){
        super(name);
    }
}

public class breakfast extends food{
    public breakfast(String name){
        super(name);
    }
}

public static void main(String args[]){
    ArrayList<food> foods = new ArrayList();

    foods.add(new food("Sausage"));
    foods.add(new food("Bacon"));
    foods.add(new pudding("cake"));
    foods.add(new breakfast("toast"));
    foods.add(new pudding("sponge"));
    foods.add(new food("Rice"));
    foods.add(new breakfast("eggs"));

    ArrayList<pudding> puds = new ArrayList();
    ArrayList<breakfast> wakeupjuices = new ArrayList();

    for(food f : foods){
        //if(f is pudding){puds.add(f);}
        //else if(f is breakfast){wakeupjuices.add(f);}
    }

}

Just a tip for the future: not related to your question, but Java conventions require capitalizing class names. The language does not require it, but when you get into developing with other people, you'll find your experience will go much more smoothly if you do so. :-) — James Cronen
– James Cronen, Commented Feb 23, 2015 at 14:24
Just quickly wrote this up to demonstrate my query, my vocabulary couldn't find the answer on google, my actual classes are capitalised. Thanks though you're right. P.s. nothing worse then developing with other people, I'd rather work in McDonalds. — TheOnlyWAR10CK93
– TheOnlyWAR10CK93, Commented Feb 23, 2015 at 14:26

BluesSolo · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-23 14:19:34Z

2

You can check for the desired types like this, using the instanceof keyword:

for (food f : foods)
{
    if (f instanceof pudding)
        puds.add(f);
    else if (f instanceof breakfast)
        wakeupjuices.add(f);
}

answered Feb 23, 2015 at 14:19

BluesSolo

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Comments

Fritz Duchardt · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-23 14:26:34Z

This can be solved elegantly with Guava using Multimaps.index:

    Function<food, String> filterFood = new Function<food, String>() {
        @Override
        public String apply(food input) {

            if (input instanceof pudding) {
                return "puddings";
            }
            if (input.b instanceof breakfast) {
                return "breakfasts";
            }
            return "something else";
        }
    };

    ImmutableListMultimap<String, food> separatedFoods = Multimaps.index(list, filterFood);

The output will be a Guava Multimap with three separate entries for:

an immutable list with all breakfast instances under key "breakfasts".
an immutable list with all pudding instances under key "puddings".
and possibly an immutable list with objects with every food instance that is neither breakfast nor pudding under key "something else".

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