Java Autoboxing and Unboxing: A Beginner's Guide

Java Autoboxing - Primitive Type to Wrapper Object

In autoboxing, the Java compiler automatically converts primitive types into their corresponding wrapper class objects. For example,

int a = 56;

// autoboxing
Integer aObj = a;

Autoboxing has a great advantage while working with Java collections.

Example 1: Java Autoboxing

import java.util.ArrayList;

class Main {
   public static void main(String[] args) {

      ArrayList<Integer> list = new ArrayList<>();

      //autoboxing
      list.add(5);
      list.add(6);

      System.out.println("ArrayList: " + list);
   }
}

Run Code

Output

ArrayList: [5, 6]

In the above example, we have created an array list of Integer type. Hence the array list can only hold objects of Integer type.

Notice the line,

list.add(5);

Here, we are passing primitive type value. However, due to autoboxing, the primitive value is automatically converted into an Integer object and stored in the array list.

Java Unboxing - Wrapper Objects to Primitive Types

In unboxing, the Java compiler automatically converts wrapper class objects into their corresponding primitive types. For example,

// autoboxing
Integer aObj = 56;

// unboxing
int a = aObj;

Like autoboxing, unboxing can also be used with Java collections.

Example 2: Java Unboxing

import java.util.ArrayList;

class Main {
   public static void main(String[] args) {

      ArrayList<Integer> list = new ArrayList<>();

      //autoboxing
      list.add(5);
      list.add(6);

      System.out.println("ArrayList: " + list);

      // unboxing
      int a = list.get(0);
      System.out.println("Value at index 0: " + a);
   }
}

Run Code

Output

ArrayList: [5, 6]
Value at index 0: 5

In the above example, notice the line,

int a = list.get(0);

Here, the get() method returns the object at index 0. However, due to unboxing, the object is automatically converted into the primitive type int and assigned to the variable a.

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