JAVA: How to create a generic Array

If you try to create a generic array in Java, you will notice that it will throw an error.

Coordinate[] coordinates = aClass.someMethod(Coordinate.class);

public <T> T[] someMethod(Class<T> t)
{
//Create an array to hold the data
int size=10;
T[] data = new <T>t[size];
return data;
}

You will get the following error: “Cannot create a generic array of T”.

The way to get around that is to use the Array.newInstance(Class<?> componentType, int... dimensions)

public <T> T[] someMethod(Class<T> t)
{
//Create an array to hold the data
int size=10;
T[] data = (T[]) Array.newInstance(t, size);
return data;
}


Hope you find this handy little tip useful!