Question

class A {
}

class B extends A {
}

class TestType {
   public static void main(String args[]) {
      A a = new B();
      // I wish to use reference 'a' to check the Reference-Type which is 'A'.
   }
}

Is is possible? If no, then please specif the reason.

Answer 1

If you call a.getClass() then it will always return you instance of class from which this object was created. In your case it is B so it will return you B.class.

Now if you want to call method on a and get class as A.class then you will not able to do it normal way.

One way out would be define method in A

public static Class<A> getType() {
        return A.class;
    }

and then you can call a.getType() which is A.class . We are making use of static method here because they are not overridden.