javaclassabstract-classfinaladts

Is there a way to implement algebraic types in Java?

Is it possible, in Java, to enforce that a class have a specific set of subclasses and no others? For example:

public abstract class A {}
public final class B extends A {}
public final class C extends A {}
public final class D extends A {}

Can I somehow enforce that no other subclasses of A can ever be created?

Solution

  • Church encoding to the rescue:

    public abstract class A {
  public abstract <R> R fold(R b, R c, R d);
}

    There are only three implementations possible:

    public final class B extends A {
  public <R> R fold(R b, R c, R d) {
    return b;
  }
}

public final class C extends A {
  public <R> R fold(R b, R c, R d) {
    return c;
  }
}

public final class D extends A {
  public <R> R fold(R b, R c, R d) {
    return d;
  }
}