Method References

01What is a Method Reference?

A method reference is a shorthand way of referring directly to an existing method, using it as if it were a lambda expression, without rewriting its logic again.

02Why is it used?

When a lambda expression would simply call an existing method with no extra logic, a method reference makes the code shorter and clearer by directly pointing to that method instead.

03Real-Life Example

Think of saying "just do what the manual says," pointing directly to an existing instruction manual, instead of rewriting all those instructions again yourself. A method reference "points to" existing method logic instead of duplicating it.

java
ClassName::methodName

java
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Arrays;

public class MethodReferenceDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        List<String> names = Arrays.asList("Aman", "Riya", "Karan");
        names.forEach(System.out::println);
    }
}

Aman
Riya
Karan