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Language: Java
Expertise: Intermediate

Sep 8, 1999

Java doesn't offer direct support for pointer to functions. But this does not mean that you cannot have a set of functions that can be accessed via a mapping index. The code below shows you how to create an array of functions.

First you'll need a generic Interface like:

 
       public interface Function 
      {
          public void runFunction();
       }

Then, you can have a variety of classes that implement this interface in their own way:

 

       class Function0 implements Function 
       {
            public void runFunction() 
           {
               System.out.println("Function 0 ececutes: ...");
           }
        }


       class Function1 implements Function 
       {
            public void runFunction() 
           {
               System.out.println("Function 1 ececutes: ...");
           }
        }

Now you just create instances of your classes and place them in an array:

 
         Function[] funcArray = new Function[2];
         funcArray[0] = new Function0();
         funcArray[1] = new Function1();

And, finally, to execute:

 

         funcArray[0].runFunction();
         funcArray[1].runFunction();