com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type

## Class TypeFactory

- java.lang.Object
- - com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.TypeFactory

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    java.io.Serializable

      public final class TypeFactory
      extends java.lang.Object
      implements java.io.Serializable

  Class used for creating concrete `JavaType` instances, given various inputs.

  Instances of this class are accessible using `ObjectMapper` as well as many objects it constructs (like `DeserializationConfig` and `SerializationConfig`)), but usually those objects also expose convenience methods (`constructType`). So, you can do for example:

         JavaType stringType = mapper.constructType(String.class);

  However, more advanced methods are only exposed by factory so that you may need to use:

         JavaType stringCollection = mapper.getTypeFactory().constructCollectionType(List.class, String.class);

  See Also:
    Serialized Form

- - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected java.lang.ClassLoader` | `_classLoader` ClassLoader used by this factory [databind#624].
    `protected TypeModifier[]` | `_modifiers` Registered `TypeModifier`s: objects that can change details of `JavaType` instances factory constructs.
    `protected TypeParser` | `_parser`
    `protected LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType>` | `_typeCache` Since type resolution can be expensive (specifically when resolving actual generic types), we will use small cache to avoid repetitive resolution of core types
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_BOOL`
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_CLASS` Cache `Class` because it is nominally parametric, but has no really useful information.
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_COMPARABLE` Cache `Comparable` because it is both parameteric (relatively costly to resolve) and mostly useless (no special handling), better handle directly
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_ENUM` Cache `Enum` because it is parametric AND self-referential (costly to resolve) and useless in itself (no special handling).
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_INT`
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_LONG`
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_OBJECT`
    `protected static SimpleType` | `CORE_TYPE_STRING`
    `protected static TypeBindings` | `EMPTY_BINDINGS`
    `protected static TypeFactory` | `instance` Globally shared singleton.

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `TypeFactory(LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> typeCache)`
    `protected` | `TypeFactory(LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> typeCache, TypeParser p, TypeModifier[] mods, java.lang.ClassLoader classLoader)`

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected JavaType` | `_constructSimple(java.lang.Class<?> raw, TypeBindings bindings, JavaType superClass, JavaType[] superInterfaces)` Factory method to call when no special `JavaType` is needed, no generic parameters are passed.
    `protected java.lang.Class<?>` | `_findPrimitive(java.lang.String className)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_findWellKnownSimple(java.lang.Class<?> clz)` Helper method called to see if requested, non-generic-parameterized type is one of common, "well-known" types, instances of which are pre-constructed and do not need dynamic caching.
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromAny(ClassStack context, java.lang.reflect.Type type, TypeBindings bindings)` Factory method that can be used if type information is passed as Java typing returned from `getGenericXxx` methods (usually for a return or argument type).
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromArrayType(ClassStack context, java.lang.reflect.GenericArrayType type, TypeBindings bindings)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromClass(ClassStack context, java.lang.Class<?> rawType, TypeBindings bindings)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromParamType(ClassStack context, java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ptype, TypeBindings parentBindings)` This method deals with parameterized types, that is, first class generic classes.
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromVariable(ClassStack context, java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable<?> var, TypeBindings bindings)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromWellKnownClass(ClassStack context, java.lang.Class<?> rawType, TypeBindings bindings, JavaType superClass, JavaType[] superInterfaces)` Helper class used to check whether exact class for which type is being constructed is one of well-known base interfaces or classes that indicates alternate `JavaType` implementation.
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromWellKnownInterface(ClassStack context, java.lang.Class<?> rawType, TypeBindings bindings, JavaType superClass, JavaType[] superInterfaces)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_fromWildcard(ClassStack context, java.lang.reflect.WildcardType type, TypeBindings bindings)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_newSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> raw, TypeBindings bindings, JavaType superClass, JavaType[] superInterfaces)` Factory method that is to create a new `SimpleType` with no checks whatsoever.
    `protected JavaType` | `_resolveSuperClass(ClassStack context, java.lang.Class<?> rawType, TypeBindings parentBindings)`
    `protected JavaType[]` | `_resolveSuperInterfaces(ClassStack context, java.lang.Class<?> rawType, TypeBindings parentBindings)`
    `protected JavaType` | `_unknownType()`
    `protected java.lang.Class<?>` | `classForName(java.lang.String name)`
    `protected java.lang.Class<?>` | `classForName(java.lang.String name, boolean initialize, java.lang.ClassLoader loader)`
    `void` | `clearCache()` Method that will clear up any cached type definitions that may be cached by this `TypeFactory` instance.
    `ArrayType` | `constructArrayType(java.lang.Class<?> elementType)` Method for constructing an `ArrayType`.
    `ArrayType` | `constructArrayType(JavaType elementType)` Method for constructing an `ArrayType`.
    `CollectionLikeType` | `constructCollectionLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> collectionClass, java.lang.Class<?> elementClass)` Method for constructing a `CollectionLikeType`.
    `CollectionLikeType` | `constructCollectionLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> collectionClass, JavaType elementType)` Method for constructing a `CollectionLikeType`.
    `CollectionType` | `constructCollectionType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Collection> collectionClass, java.lang.Class<?> elementClass)` Method for constructing a `CollectionType`.
    `CollectionType` | `constructCollectionType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Collection> collectionClass, JavaType elementType)` Method for constructing a `CollectionType`.
    `JavaType` | `constructFromCanonical(java.lang.String canonical)` Factory method for constructing a `JavaType` out of its canonical representation (see `ResolvedType.toCanonical()`).
    `JavaType` | `constructGeneralizedType(JavaType baseType, java.lang.Class<?> superClass)` Method similar to `constructSpecializedType(com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType, java.lang.Class<?>)`, but that creates a less-specific type of given type.
    `MapLikeType` | `constructMapLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> mapClass, java.lang.Class<?> keyClass, java.lang.Class<?> valueClass)` Method for constructing a `MapLikeType` instance
    `MapLikeType` | `constructMapLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> mapClass, JavaType keyType, JavaType valueType)` Method for constructing a `MapLikeType` instance
    `MapType` | `constructMapType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Map> mapClass, java.lang.Class<?> keyClass, java.lang.Class<?> valueClass)` Method for constructing a `MapType` instance
    `MapType` | `constructMapType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Map> mapClass, JavaType keyType, JavaType valueType)` Method for constructing a `MapType` instance
    `JavaType` | `constructParametricType(java.lang.Class<?> parametrized, java.lang.Class<?>... parameterClasses)` Factory method for constructing `JavaType` that represents a parameterized type.
    `JavaType` | `constructParametricType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType, JavaType... parameterTypes)` Factory method for constructing `JavaType` that represents a parameterized type.
    `JavaType` | `constructParametrizedType(java.lang.Class<?> parametrized, java.lang.Class<?> parametersFor, java.lang.Class<?>... parameterClasses)`
    `JavaType` | `constructParametrizedType(java.lang.Class<?> parametrized, java.lang.Class<?> parametersFor, JavaType... parameterTypes)`
    `CollectionLikeType` | `constructRawCollectionLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> collectionClass)` Method that can be used to construct "raw" Collection-like type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown.
    `CollectionType` | `constructRawCollectionType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Collection> collectionClass)` Method that can be used to construct "raw" Collection type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown.
    `MapLikeType` | `constructRawMapLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> mapClass)` Method that can be used to construct "raw" Map-like type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown.
    `MapType` | `constructRawMapType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Map> mapClass)` Method that can be used to construct "raw" Map type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown.
    `JavaType` | `constructReferenceType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType, JavaType referredType)`
    `JavaType` | `constructSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType, java.lang.Class<?> parameterTarget, JavaType[] parameterTypes)` Deprecated. Since 2.7
    `JavaType` | `constructSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType, JavaType[] parameterTypes)` Method for constructing a type instance with specified parameterization.
    `JavaType` | `constructSpecializedType(JavaType baseType, java.lang.Class<?> subclass)` Factory method for creating a subtype of given base type, as defined by specified subclass; but retaining generic type information if any.
    `JavaType` | `constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type)`
    `JavaType` | `constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type, java.lang.Class<?> contextClass)` Deprecated. Since 2.7 (accidentally removed in 2.7.0; added back in 2.7.1)
    `JavaType` | `constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type, JavaType contextType)` Deprecated. Since 2.7 (accidentally removed in 2.7.0; added back in 2.7.1)
    `JavaType` | `constructType(com.fasterxml.jackson.core.type.TypeReference<?> typeRef)`
    `JavaType` | `constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type, TypeBindings bindings)`
    `static TypeFactory` | `defaultInstance()` Method used to access the globally shared instance, which has no custom configuration.
    `java.lang.Class<?>` | `findClass(java.lang.String className)` Low-level lookup method moved from `ClassUtil`, to allow for overriding of lookup functionality in environments like OSGi.
    `JavaType[]` | `findTypeParameters(java.lang.Class<?> clz, java.lang.Class<?> expType)` Deprecated. Since 2.7 resolve raw type first, then find type parameters
    `JavaType[]` | `findTypeParameters(java.lang.Class<?> clz, java.lang.Class<?> expType, TypeBindings bindings)` Deprecated. Since 2.7 resolve raw type first, then find type parameters
    `JavaType[]` | `findTypeParameters(JavaType type, java.lang.Class<?> expType)` Method that is to figure out actual type parameters that given class binds to generic types defined by given (generic) interface or class.
    `java.lang.ClassLoader` | `getClassLoader()`
    `JavaType` | `moreSpecificType(JavaType type1, JavaType type2)` Method that can be called to figure out more specific of two types (if they are related; that is, one implements or extends the other); or if not related, return the primary type.
    `static java.lang.Class<?>` | `rawClass(java.lang.reflect.Type t)` Static helper method that can be called to figure out type-erased call for given JDK type.
    `JavaType` | `uncheckedSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> cls)` Deprecated. Since 2.8, to indicate users should never call this method.
    `static JavaType` | `unknownType()` Method for constructing a marker type that indicates missing generic type information, which is handled same as simple type for `java.lang.Object`.
    `TypeFactory` | `withCache(LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> cache)` Mutant factory method that will construct new `TypeFactory` with identical settings except for different cache; most likely one with bigger maximum size.
    `TypeFactory` | `withClassLoader(java.lang.ClassLoader classLoader)`
    `TypeFactory` | `withModifier(TypeModifier mod)`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### instance

          protected static final TypeFactory instance

      Globally shared singleton. Not accessed directly; non-core code should use per-ObjectMapper instance (via configuration objects). Core Jackson code uses `defaultInstance()` for accessing it.

    - #### EMPTY_BINDINGS

          protected static final TypeBindings EMPTY_BINDINGS

    - #### CORE_TYPE_BOOL

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_BOOL

    - #### CORE_TYPE_INT

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_INT

    - #### CORE_TYPE_LONG

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_LONG

    - #### CORE_TYPE_STRING

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_STRING

    - #### CORE_TYPE_OBJECT

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_OBJECT

    - #### CORE_TYPE_COMPARABLE

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_COMPARABLE

      Cache `Comparable` because it is both parameteric (relatively costly to resolve) and mostly useless (no special handling), better handle directly
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### CORE_TYPE_ENUM

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_ENUM

      Cache `Enum` because it is parametric AND self-referential (costly to resolve) and useless in itself (no special handling).
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### CORE_TYPE_CLASS

          protected static final SimpleType CORE_TYPE_CLASS

      Cache `Class` because it is nominally parametric, but has no really useful information.
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### _typeCache

          protected final LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> _typeCache

      Since type resolution can be expensive (specifically when resolving actual generic types), we will use small cache to avoid repetitive resolution of core types

    - #### _modifiers

          protected final TypeModifier[] _modifiers

      Registered `TypeModifier`s: objects that can change details of `JavaType` instances factory constructs.

    - #### _parser

          protected final TypeParser _parser

    - #### _classLoader

          protected final java.lang.ClassLoader _classLoader

      ClassLoader used by this factory [databind#624].

  - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### TypeFactory

          protected TypeFactory(LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> typeCache)

      Since:
        2.8

    - #### TypeFactory

          protected TypeFactory(LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> typeCache,
                     TypeParser p,
                     TypeModifier[] mods,
                     java.lang.ClassLoader classLoader)

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### withModifier

          public TypeFactory withModifier(TypeModifier mod)

    - #### withClassLoader

          public TypeFactory withClassLoader(java.lang.ClassLoader classLoader)

    - #### withCache

          public TypeFactory withCache(LRUMap<java.lang.Object,JavaType> cache)

      Mutant factory method that will construct new `TypeFactory` with identical settings except for different cache; most likely one with bigger maximum size.
      Since:
        2.8

    - #### defaultInstance

          public static TypeFactory defaultInstance()

      Method used to access the globally shared instance, which has no custom configuration. Used by `ObjectMapper` to get the default factory when constructed.

    - #### clearCache

          public void clearCache()

      Method that will clear up any cached type definitions that may be cached by this `TypeFactory` instance. This method should not be commonly used, that is, only use it if you know there is a problem with retention of type definitions; the most likely (and currently only known) problem is retention of `Class` instances via `JavaType` reference.
      Since:
        2.4.1

    - #### getClassLoader

          public java.lang.ClassLoader getClassLoader()

    - #### unknownType

          public static JavaType unknownType()

      Method for constructing a marker type that indicates missing generic type information, which is handled same as simple type for `java.lang.Object`.

    - #### rawClass

          public static java.lang.Class<?> rawClass(java.lang.reflect.Type t)

      Static helper method that can be called to figure out type-erased call for given JDK type. It can be called statically since type resolution process can never change actual type-erased class; thereby static default instance is used for determination.

    - #### findClass

          public java.lang.Class<?> findClass(java.lang.String className)
                                       throws java.lang.ClassNotFoundException

      Low-level lookup method moved from `ClassUtil`, to allow for overriding of lookup functionality in environments like OSGi.
      Throws:
        `java.lang.ClassNotFoundException`
      Since:
        2.6

    - #### classForName

          protected java.lang.Class<?> classForName(java.lang.String name,
                                        boolean initialize,
                                        java.lang.ClassLoader loader)
                                             throws java.lang.ClassNotFoundException

      Throws:
        `java.lang.ClassNotFoundException`

    - #### classForName

          protected java.lang.Class<?> classForName(java.lang.String name)
                                             throws java.lang.ClassNotFoundException

      Throws:
        `java.lang.ClassNotFoundException`

    - #### _findPrimitive

          protected java.lang.Class<?> _findPrimitive(java.lang.String className)

    - #### constructSpecializedType

          public JavaType constructSpecializedType(JavaType baseType,
                                          java.lang.Class<?> subclass)

      Factory method for creating a subtype of given base type, as defined by specified subclass; but retaining generic type information if any. Can be used, for example, to get equivalent of "HashMap<String,Integer>" from "Map<String,Integer>" by giving `HashMap.class` as subclass.

    - #### constructGeneralizedType

          public JavaType constructGeneralizedType(JavaType baseType,
                                          java.lang.Class<?> superClass)

      Method similar to `constructSpecializedType(com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType, java.lang.Class<?>)`, but that creates a less-specific type of given type. Usually this is as simple as simply finding super-type with type erasure of `superClass`, but there may be need for some additional work-arounds.
      Parameters:
        `superClass` -
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### constructFromCanonical

          public JavaType constructFromCanonical(java.lang.String canonical)
                                          throws java.lang.IllegalArgumentException

      Factory method for constructing a `JavaType` out of its canonical representation (see `ResolvedType.toCanonical()`).
      Parameters:
        `canonical` - Canonical string representation of a type
      Throws:
        `java.lang.IllegalArgumentException` - If canonical representation is malformed, or class that type represents (including its generic parameters) is not found

    - #### findTypeParameters

          public JavaType[] findTypeParameters(JavaType type,
                                      java.lang.Class<?> expType)

      Method that is to figure out actual type parameters that given class binds to generic types defined by given (generic) interface or class. This could mean, for example, trying to figure out key and value types for Map implementations.
      Parameters:
        `type` - Sub-type (leaf type) that implements `expType`

    - #### findTypeParameters

          @Deprecated
          public JavaType[] findTypeParameters(java.lang.Class<?> clz,
                                                 java.lang.Class<?> expType,
                                                 TypeBindings bindings)

      Deprecated. Since 2.7 resolve raw type first, then find type parameters

    - #### findTypeParameters

          @Deprecated
          public JavaType[] findTypeParameters(java.lang.Class<?> clz,
                                                 java.lang.Class<?> expType)

      Deprecated. Since 2.7 resolve raw type first, then find type parameters

    - #### moreSpecificType

          public JavaType moreSpecificType(JavaType type1,
                                  JavaType type2)

      Method that can be called to figure out more specific of two types (if they are related; that is, one implements or extends the other); or if not related, return the primary type.
      Parameters:
        `type1` - Primary type to consider
        `type2` - Secondary type to consider
      Since:
        2.2

    - #### constructType

          public JavaType constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type)

    - #### constructType

          public JavaType constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type,
                               TypeBindings bindings)

    - #### constructType

          public JavaType constructType(com.fasterxml.jackson.core.type.TypeReference<?> typeRef)

    - #### constructType

          @Deprecated
          public JavaType constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type,
                                          java.lang.Class<?> contextClass)

      Deprecated. Since 2.7 (accidentally removed in 2.7.0; added back in 2.7.1)

    - #### constructType

          @Deprecated
          public JavaType constructType(java.lang.reflect.Type type,
                                          JavaType contextType)

      Deprecated. Since 2.7 (accidentally removed in 2.7.0; added back in 2.7.1)

    - #### constructArrayType

          public ArrayType constructArrayType(java.lang.Class<?> elementType)

      Method for constructing an `ArrayType`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on array type itself; but are called for element type (and other contained types)

    - #### constructArrayType

          public ArrayType constructArrayType(JavaType elementType)

      Method for constructing an `ArrayType`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on array type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructCollectionType

          public CollectionType constructCollectionType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Collection> collectionClass,
                                               java.lang.Class<?> elementClass)

      Method for constructing a `CollectionType`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on Collection type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructCollectionType

          public CollectionType constructCollectionType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Collection> collectionClass,
                                               JavaType elementType)

      Method for constructing a `CollectionType`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on Collection type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructCollectionLikeType

          public CollectionLikeType constructCollectionLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> collectionClass,
                                                       java.lang.Class<?> elementClass)

      Method for constructing a `CollectionLikeType`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructCollectionLikeType

          public CollectionLikeType constructCollectionLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> collectionClass,
                                                       JavaType elementType)

      Method for constructing a `CollectionLikeType`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructMapType

          public MapType constructMapType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Map> mapClass,
                                 java.lang.Class<?> keyClass,
                                 java.lang.Class<?> valueClass)

      Method for constructing a `MapType` instance

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructMapType

          public MapType constructMapType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Map> mapClass,
                                 JavaType keyType,
                                 JavaType valueType)

      Method for constructing a `MapType` instance

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructMapLikeType

          public MapLikeType constructMapLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> mapClass,
                                         java.lang.Class<?> keyClass,
                                         java.lang.Class<?> valueClass)

      Method for constructing a `MapLikeType` instance

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructMapLikeType

          public MapLikeType constructMapLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> mapClass,
                                         JavaType keyType,
                                         JavaType valueType)

      Method for constructing a `MapLikeType` instance

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type itself; but are called for contained types.

    - #### constructSimpleType

          public JavaType constructSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                     JavaType[] parameterTypes)

      Method for constructing a type instance with specified parameterization.

      NOTE: was briefly deprecated for 2.6.

    - #### constructSimpleType

          @Deprecated
          public JavaType constructSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                                java.lang.Class<?> parameterTarget,
                                                JavaType[] parameterTypes)

      Deprecated. Since 2.7
      Method for constructing a type instance with specified parameterization.
      Since:
        2.6

    - #### constructReferenceType

          public JavaType constructReferenceType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                        JavaType referredType)

      Since:
        2.6

    - #### uncheckedSimpleType

          @Deprecated
          public JavaType uncheckedSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> cls)

      Deprecated. Since 2.8, to indicate users should never call this method.
      Method that use by core Databind functionality, and that should NOT be called by application code outside databind package.

      Unchecked here not only means that no checks are made as to whether given class might be non-simple type (like `CollectionType`) but also that most of supertype information is not gathered. This means that unless called on primitive types or `String`, results are probably not what you want to use.

    - #### constructParametricType

          public JavaType constructParametricType(java.lang.Class<?> parametrized,
                                         java.lang.Class<?>... parameterClasses)

      Factory method for constructing `JavaType` that represents a parameterized type. For example, to represent type `List<Set<Integer>>`, you could call

            JavaType inner = TypeFactory.constructParametrizedType(Set.class, Set.class, Integer.class);
            return TypeFactory.constructParametrizedType(ArrayList.class, List.class, inner);

      The reason for first two arguments to be separate is that parameterization may apply to a super-type. For example, if generic type was instead to be constructed for `ArrayList<Integer>`, the usual call would be:

            TypeFactory.constructParametrizedType(ArrayList.class, List.class, Integer.class);

      since parameterization is applied to `List`. In most cases distinction does not matter, but there are types where it does; one such example is parameterization of types that implement `Iterator`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type.

      Parameters:
        `parametrized` - Actual full type
        `parameterClasses` - Type parameters to apply
      Since:
        2.5 NOTE: was briefly deprecated for 2.6

    - #### constructParametricType

          public JavaType constructParametricType(java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                         JavaType... parameterTypes)

      Factory method for constructing `JavaType` that represents a parameterized type. For example, to represent type `List<Set<Integer>>`, you could call

            JavaType inner = TypeFactory.constructParametrizedType(Set.class, Set.class, Integer.class);
            return TypeFactory.constructParametrizedType(ArrayList.class, List.class, inner);

      The reason for first two arguments to be separate is that parameterization may apply to a super-type. For example, if generic type was instead to be constructed for `ArrayList<Integer>`, the usual call would be:

            TypeFactory.constructParametrizedType(ArrayList.class, List.class, Integer.class);

      since parameterization is applied to `List`. In most cases distinction does not matter, but there are types where it does; one such example is parameterization of types that implement `Iterator`.

      NOTE: type modifiers are NOT called on constructed type.

      Parameters:
        `rawType` - Actual type-erased type
        `parameterTypes` - Type parameters to apply
      Since:
        2.5 NOTE: was briefly deprecated for 2.6

    - #### constructParametrizedType

          public JavaType constructParametrizedType(java.lang.Class<?> parametrized,
                                           java.lang.Class<?> parametersFor,
                                           JavaType... parameterTypes)

      Since:
        2.5 -- but will probably deprecated in 2.7 or 2.8 (not needed with 2.7)

    - #### constructParametrizedType

          public JavaType constructParametrizedType(java.lang.Class<?> parametrized,
                                           java.lang.Class<?> parametersFor,
                                           java.lang.Class<?>... parameterClasses)

      Since:
        2.5 -- but will probably deprecated in 2.7 or 2.8 (not needed with 2.7)

    - #### constructRawCollectionType

          public CollectionType constructRawCollectionType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Collection> collectionClass)

      Method that can be used to construct "raw" Collection type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown. This is similar to using `Object.class` parameterization, and is equivalent to calling:

            typeFactory.constructCollectionType(collectionClass, typeFactory.unknownType());

      This method should only be used if parameterization is completely unavailable.

    - #### constructRawCollectionLikeType

          public CollectionLikeType constructRawCollectionLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> collectionClass)

      Method that can be used to construct "raw" Collection-like type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown. This is similar to using `Object.class` parameterization, and is equivalent to calling:

            typeFactory.constructCollectionLikeType(collectionClass, typeFactory.unknownType());

      This method should only be used if parameterization is completely unavailable.

    - #### constructRawMapType

          public MapType constructRawMapType(java.lang.Class<? extends java.util.Map> mapClass)

      Method that can be used to construct "raw" Map type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown. This is similar to using `Object.class` parameterization, and is equivalent to calling:

            typeFactory.constructMapType(collectionClass, typeFactory.unknownType(), typeFactory.unknownType());

      This method should only be used if parameterization is completely unavailable.

    - #### constructRawMapLikeType

          public MapLikeType constructRawMapLikeType(java.lang.Class<?> mapClass)

      Method that can be used to construct "raw" Map-like type; meaning that its parameterization is unknown. This is similar to using `Object.class` parameterization, and is equivalent to calling:

            typeFactory.constructMapLikeType(collectionClass, typeFactory.unknownType(), typeFactory.unknownType());

      This method should only be used if parameterization is completely unavailable.

    - #### _constructSimple

          protected JavaType _constructSimple(java.lang.Class<?> raw,
                                  TypeBindings bindings,
                                  JavaType superClass,
                                  JavaType[] superInterfaces)

      Factory method to call when no special `JavaType` is needed, no generic parameters are passed. Default implementation may check pre-constructed values for "well-known" types, but if none found will simply call `_newSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?>, com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type.TypeBindings, com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType, com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType[])`
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### _newSimpleType

          protected JavaType _newSimpleType(java.lang.Class<?> raw,
                                TypeBindings bindings,
                                JavaType superClass,
                                JavaType[] superInterfaces)

      Factory method that is to create a new `SimpleType` with no checks whatsoever. Default implementation calls the single argument constructor of `SimpleType`.
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### _unknownType

          protected JavaType _unknownType()

    - #### _findWellKnownSimple

          protected JavaType _findWellKnownSimple(java.lang.Class<?> clz)

      Helper method called to see if requested, non-generic-parameterized type is one of common, "well-known" types, instances of which are pre-constructed and do not need dynamic caching.
      Since:
        2.7

    - #### _fromAny

          protected JavaType _fromAny(ClassStack context,
                          java.lang.reflect.Type type,
                          TypeBindings bindings)

      Factory method that can be used if type information is passed as Java typing returned from `getGenericXxx` methods (usually for a return or argument type).

    - #### _fromClass

          protected JavaType _fromClass(ClassStack context,
                            java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                            TypeBindings bindings)

      Parameters:
        `bindings` - Mapping of formal parameter declarations (for generic types) into actual types

    - #### _resolveSuperClass

          protected JavaType _resolveSuperClass(ClassStack context,
                                    java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                    TypeBindings parentBindings)

    - #### _resolveSuperInterfaces

          protected JavaType[] _resolveSuperInterfaces(ClassStack context,
                                           java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                           TypeBindings parentBindings)

    - #### _fromWellKnownClass

          protected JavaType _fromWellKnownClass(ClassStack context,
                                     java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                     TypeBindings bindings,
                                     JavaType superClass,
                                     JavaType[] superInterfaces)

      Helper class used to check whether exact class for which type is being constructed is one of well-known base interfaces or classes that indicates alternate `JavaType` implementation.

    - #### _fromWellKnownInterface

          protected JavaType _fromWellKnownInterface(ClassStack context,
                                         java.lang.Class<?> rawType,
                                         TypeBindings bindings,
                                         JavaType superClass,
                                         JavaType[] superInterfaces)

    - #### _fromParamType

          protected JavaType _fromParamType(ClassStack context,
                                java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ptype,
                                TypeBindings parentBindings)

      This method deals with parameterized types, that is, first class generic classes.

    - #### _fromArrayType

          protected JavaType _fromArrayType(ClassStack context,
                                java.lang.reflect.GenericArrayType type,
                                TypeBindings bindings)

    - #### _fromVariable

          protected JavaType _fromVariable(ClassStack context,
                               java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable<?> var,
                               TypeBindings bindings)

    - #### _fromWildcard

          protected JavaType _fromWildcard(ClassStack context,
                               java.lang.reflect.WildcardType type,
                               TypeBindings bindings)