java - What's the best way to get a Class object for an array type?

Question

It's easy to get a class literal for a class:

String.class

But how can I get a class object for an array type?

This works, but it's ugly, and probably not a compile time constant:

new byte[0].getClass()

I looked in the JLS but the only thing I found out is that what I'm calling a "class literal" isn't a "literal" according to the JLS definition.

Answer 1

You can still use a class literal, even for an array type. This compiles just fine.

Class<String[]> clazz = String[].class;
Class<byte[]> clazz2 = byte[].class;

Section 15.8.2 of the JLS states:

A class literal is an expression consisting of the name of a class, interface, array, or primitive type, or the pseudo-type void, followed by a '.' and the token class.

(bold emphasis mine)