4/22/24, 8:34 PM instanceof Keyword in Java - GeeksforGeeks

instanceof Keyword in Java

Last Updated : 06 Jul, 2023
In Java, instanceof is a keyword used for checking if a reference variable
contains a given type of object reference or not. Following is a Java program
to show different behaviors of instanceof. Henceforth it is known as a
comparison operator where the instance is getting compared to type
returning boolean true or false as in Java we do not have 0 and 1 boolean
return types.

Example of the Java instanceof Keyword

Java

// Java Program to Illustrate instanceof Keyword

// Importing required I/O classes

import java.io.*;

// Main class
class GFG {
public static void main(String[] args)
{

// Creating object of class inside main()

GFG object = new GFG();

// Returning instanceof
System.out.println(object instanceof GFG);
}
}

Output

true

Examples of Java instaceof keyword

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4/22/24, 8:34 PM instanceof Keyword in Java - GeeksforGeeks

Here are all the examples of instanceof keywords with their respective
cases:

Java1. Here Java

Arrays we Strings
will beJava
creating
OOPs sample classes
Java Collection Javawith a parent-child
8 Tutorial Java Multithreading Java Exceptio
relationship.

Java

// Java program to demonstrate working of instanceof Keyword

// Class 1
// Parent class
class Parent {
}

// Class 2
// Child class
class Child extends Parent {
}

// Class 3
// Main class
class GFG {

// Main driver method

public static void main(String[] args)
{

// Creating object of child class

Child cobj = new Child();

// A simple case
if (cobj instanceof Child)
System.out.println("cobj is instance of Child");
else
System.out.println(
"cobj is NOT instance of Child");

// instanceof returning true for Parent class also

if (cobj instanceof Parent)
System.out.println(
"cobj is instance of Parent");
else
System.out.println(
"cobj is NOT instance of Parent");

// instanceof returns true for all ancestors

// Note : Object is ancestor of all classes in Java

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if (cobj instanceof Object)

System.out.println(
"cobj is instance of Object");
else
System.out.println(
"cobj is NOT instance of Object");
}
}

Output

cobj is instance of Child

cobj is instance of Parent
cobj is instance of Object

2. instanceof returning false for null

Java

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4/22/24, 8:34 PM instanceof Keyword in Java - GeeksforGeeks

// Java program to demonstrate that instanceof

// returns false for null

class Test {
}

class Main {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Test tobj = null;

// A simple case
if (tobj instanceof Test)
System.out.println("tobj is instance of Test");
else
System.out.println(
"tobj is NOT instance of Test");
}
}

Output

tobj is NOT instance of Test

3. Parent object is not an instance of Child

Java

// A Java program to show that a parent object is

// not an instance of Child

class Parent {
}
class Child extends Parent {
}

// Driver Class
class Test {
// main function
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Parent pobj = new Parent();
if (pobj instanceof Child)
System.out.println("pobj is instance of Child");
else

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System.out.println(
"pobj is NOT instance of Child");
}
}

Output

pobj is NOT instance of Child

4. Parent reference referring to a Child is an instance of a Child

Java

// A Java program to show that a parent reference

// referring to a Child is an instance of Child

class Parent {
}
class Child extends Parent {
}

// Driver class
class Test {
// main function
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Reference is Parent type but object is
// of child type.
Parent cobj = new Child();
if (cobj instanceof Child)
System.out.println("cobj is instance of Child");
else
System.out.println(
"cobj is NOT instance of Child");
}
}

Output

cobj is instance of Child

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4/22/24, 8:34 PM instanceof Keyword in Java - GeeksforGeeks

Application of Java instanceof keyword

We have seen here that a parent class data member is accessed when a
reference of parent type refers to a child object. We can access child data
members using typecasting.
Syntax

((child_class_name) Parent_Reference_variable).func.name()

When we do typecasting, it is always a good idea to check if the typecasting

is valid or not. instanceof helps us here. We can always first check for
validity using instanceof, then do typecasting.

Example

Java

// Java program to demonstrate that non-method

// members are accessed according to reference
// type (Unlike methods which are accessed according
// to the referred object)

class Parent {
int value = 1000;
}

class Child extends Parent {

int value = 10;
}

// Driver class
class Test {
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Parent cobj = new Child();
Parent par = cobj;

// Using instanceof to make sure that par

// is a valid reference before typecasting
if (par instanceof Child) {
System.out.println(
"Value accessed through "
+ "parent reference with typecasting is "
+ ((Child)par).value);
}
}
}

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4/22/24, 8:34 PM instanceof Keyword in Java - GeeksforGeeks

Output

Value accessed through parent reference with typecasting is 10

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