Java Reflection - Class.getCanonicalName() Examples

[Last Updated: Nov 8, 2025]

Class:

java.lang.Class

Method:

public String getCanonicalName()

Returns the canonical name of the underlying class or returns null if the underlying class does not have a canonical name (i.e., if it is a local or anonymous class or an array whose component type does not have a canonical name).

Returns:: the canonical name of the underlying class if it exists, and null otherwise.

Examples

package com.logicbig.example.clazz;

import java.math.BigDecimal;

public class GetCanonicalNameExample {

    public static void main(String... args) {
        String canonicalName = BigDecimal.class.getCanonicalName();
        System.out.println(canonicalName);

        //an anonymous class
        canonicalName = new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
            }
        }.getClass().getCanonicalName();
        System.out.println(canonicalName);

        //java 8 lambda
        Runnable runnable = () -> {
        };
        canonicalName = runnable.getClass().getCanonicalName();
        System.out.println(canonicalName);

        canonicalName = String[].class.getCanonicalName();
        System.out.println(canonicalName);
    }
}

Output

java.math.BigDecimal
null
com.logicbig.example.clazz.GetCanonicalNameExample$$Lambda$41/1803993120
java.lang.String[]

Java Reflection - Class.getCanonicalName() Examples

Class:

Method:

Examples

Output

See Also