Class getEnclosingClass() method in Java with Examples

Last Updated : 27 Jan, 2022

The getEnclosingClass() method of java.lang.Class class is used to get the enclosing class of this class. The method returns the enclosing class of this class, if this class is a local class or anonymous class declared in that class. Else this method returns null.
Syntax:

public Class getEnclosingClass() throws SecurityException

Parameter: This method does not accept any parameter.
Return Value: This method returns the enclosing class of this class if this class is a local class or anonymous class declared in that class. Else this method returns null.
Exception This method throws SecurityException if a security manager is present and the security conditions are not met.
Below programs demonstrate the getEnclosingClass() method.
Example 1:

Java

// Java program to demonstrate getEnclosingClass() method

import java.util.*;

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws ClassNotFoundException
    {

        // returns the Class object for this class
        Class myClass = Class.forName(&quot;Test&quot;);

        System.out.println(&quot;Class represented by myClass: &quot;
                           + myClass.toString());

        // Get the enclosing class of myClass
        // using getEnclosingClass() method
        System.out.println(&quot;EnclosingClass of myClass: &quot;
                           + myClass.getEnclosingClass());
    }
}

Output:

Class represented by myClass: class Test
EnclosingClass of myClass: null

Example 2:

Java

// Java program to demonstrate getEnclosingClass() method

import java.util.*;

class Main {

    public Object obj;

    Main()
    {

        class Arr {
        };

        obj = new Arr();
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws ClassNotFoundException
    {
        Main t = new Main();

        // returns the Class object
        Class myClass = t.obj.getClass();

        // Get the enclosing class of myClass
        // using getEnclosingClass() method
        System.out.println(&quot;EnclosingClass of myClass: &quot;
                           + myClass.getEnclosingClass());
    }
}