Java 16 - Pattern Matching for instanceof

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Java 14 introduces instanceof operator to have type test pattern as is a preview feature. Type test pattern has a predicate to specify a type with a single binding variable. It continues to be a preview feature in Java 15 as well. With Java 16, this feature is now a part of standard delivery.

Syntax

if (person instanceof Employee e) {
   return e.getEmployeeId();
}

Example

Consider the following example:

ApiTester.java

public class APITester {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      Person manager = new Manager(23, "Robert");
      manager.name = "Robert";
      System.out.println(getId(manager));
   }
   public static int getId(Person person) {
      if (person instanceof Employee e) {
         return e.getEmployeeId();
      } 
      else if (person instanceof Manager m) {
         return m.getManagerId();
      }
      return -1;
   }
}
abstract class Person {
   String name;
   String getName() {
      return name;
   }
}
final class Employee extends Person {
   String name;
   int id;
   Employee(int id, String name){
      this.id = id;
      this.name = name;
   }
   int getEmployeeId() {
      return id;
   }
}
final class Manager extends Person {
   int id;
   Manager(int id, String name){
      this.id = id;
      this.name = name;
   }
   int getManagerId() {
      return id;
   }
}

Compile and Run the program

$javac APITester.java
$java APITester

Output

23