Nested Bounded Wildcard

Question

When I try to compile the following code:

LinkedList<List<? extends Number>> numList = new LinkedList<List<Integer>>();

I get an incompatible type error:

Required: LinkedList <java.util.list<? extends java.lang.Number>>
Found: LinkedList <java.util.list<Integer>>

How can I achieve having a LinkedList which contains elements that are Lists with elements that extend Number?

To be clear, I'm looking to add lists to numList in the following fashion:

numList.add(new LinkedList<Integer>());

Exorbitant

Answer 1

Wildcard capture does not go more than one generic level deep. So while this works:

LinkedList<? extends Number> test = new LinkedList<Integer>();

This does not:

LinkedList<List<? extends Number>> numList = new LinkedList<List<Integer>>();

The most reasonable explanation I can think of is to think of generics as invariant at the outermost level. A LinkedList<List<Integer>> is not a LinkedList<List<? extends Number>>, even though a List<Integer> is a List<? extends Number>, for the same reason that a List<Dog> is not a List<Animal> even though a Dog is an Animal. Here, Dog is to Animal as List<Integer> is to List<? extends Number>.

Well, the Dog/Animal solution is ? extends:

List<? extends Animal> animals = new List<Dog>();

Applying the same reasoning, the workaround is another ? extends:

LinkedList<? extends List<? extends Number>> numList = new LinkedList<List<Integer>>();

However, you won't be able to add anything to this list because of the first ? extends. The reference type variable numList doesn't know which subtype of List<? extends Number> it really is; it could be ArrayList<Integer>, so Java cannot provide the type safety that such a thing can be added to such a LinkedList. To maintain type safety, the compiler will only allow adding null. You'll have to match the generic type parameters exactly, with no wildcards: LinkedList<List<Integer>> numList = new LinkedList<List<Integer>>();. You can add a List<Integer> to such a LinkedList.

Severalty

Question, is it possible to do LinkedList<List<Number>> numList = new LinkedList<List<Number>>(); ? – Alloy

Yes, that is possible. – Severalty

@SotiriosDelimanolis I'll see if I can find some supporting documentation. – Severalty

I actually experimented with this solution. From here, why doesn't: numList.add(new LinkedList<Integer>()); work? I get a capture<? extends List<? extends Integer> cannot be applied to LinkedList<Integer>. – Exorbitant

Have a look at my answer to #20038061 which is closely related; and at the many answers to #2745765 which is also related. – Juliennejuliet

Related - multiple nested wildcard - arguments not applicable – Severalty

@Severalty -- Even after the proposed changes I'm still not quite able to achieve what I'm looking to do. Take a quick look at my comment? – Exorbitant

Yeah, this solution won't let you add anything much to the list. You will find it hard to work with. My answer to the question that I linked to explains why. – Juliennejuliet

You won't be able to add anything to this list because of the first ? extends. The reference type variable numList doesn't know which subtype of List<? extends Number> it really is; it could be ArrayList<Integer>, so Java cannot provide the type safety that such a thing can be added to such a LinkedList. To maintain type safety, the compiler will only allow adding null. You'll have to match the generic type parameters exactly, with no wildcards: LinkedList<List<Integer>> numList = new LinkedList<List<Integer>>();. You can add a List<Integer> to such a LinkedList. – Severalty

@rgettman, your last comment hits the nail on the head. Update your actual answer with these details and I'll accept it. – Exorbitant

Added the comment to my answer. – Severalty