java.lang.ref
Class Reference

java.lang.Object
  java.lang.ref.Reference

Direct Known Subclasses:

WeakReference

public abstract class Reference
extends Object

Abstract base class for reference objects. This class defines the operations common to all reference objects. Because reference objects are implemented in close cooperation with the garbage collector, this class may not be subclassed directly.

Since:

JDK1.2, CLDC 1.1

Version:

12/19/01 (CLDC 1.1)

Method Summary

void	clear() Clears this reference object.
Object	get() Returns this reference object's referent.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

equals, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Method Detail

clear

public void clear()

Clears this reference object.

get

public Object get()

Returns this reference object's referent. If this reference object has been cleared, either by the program or by the garbage collector, then this method returns null.

Returns:

The object to which this reference refers, or null if this reference object has been cleared