Java - Get a given objects name from another class

Question

I have a basic understanding of OOP concepts, but here is a question I currently have.

Say I create this object:

Test test1 = new Test();

I then call a function within this Object

test1.toString();

And when overriding that toString() method I want to get the 'test1' object name from the main class file, so I can print it out like so...

System.out.println( "This is a test " + test1.toString() );

Prints:

This is a test test1

Thank you

You can store the 'test1' name in a private attribute and then use that value in a method. — Juan Marcos Armella
– Juan Marcos Armella, Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 2:38
What is the object name in Test test1 = new Test(); Test test2 = test1;? — user4910279
– user4910279, Commented Feb 9, 2016 at 2:42

Peter Lawrey · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-09 02:43:35Z

4

The name of a local variable is only meaningful at compile time. There is no way to obtain the name of a reference.

Note: the reference and the Object are two different things.

What you can do is get the name of a field, however there is no way to find from an object where the object has been assigned.

The normal way to give an Object a name, is to give a field e.g. name

Test test1 = new Test("test1");
String str = test1.getName();

For enum there is an implicit name.

enum BuySell {
    Buy, Sell;
}

BuySell bs = BuySell.Buy;
String s = bs.name(); // implicitly defined for all Enum

answered Feb 9, 2016 at 2:37

Peter Lawrey

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1 Comment

Thank you for the help, Peter