Java 8 java.util.Function and BiFunction Examples

Java 8 introduced Function Interfaces, Lambda Expressions, and also a lot many utility functions to make use with Lambda's and Streams, you make find these been used very much in all new classes and methods added to Java 8 and later.

In this tutorial, we will take a look at the java.util.Function and java.util.BiFunction Functional Inteface classes,

Java Functional Interface Function

If you go to the Java rt.jar and look at the java.util package you will see the Function.java

@FunctionalInterface
public interface Function<T, R> {

 R apply(T t);

}

T – This is to represent the type of input to the function.
R – This is to represent what Type is the return type of the function.

Example 1: Function that takes a String name and returns a String Greeting

public static void main(String[] args) {
 Function<String,String> greeting = (name) ->  "Hello "+name+"!";
 System.out.println(greeting.apply("Sam"));
}

Output:

Hello Sam!

Example 2: Function that takes a Integer and returns a Boolean true if a Even else false

public static void main(String[] args) {

  Function<Integer,Boolean> evenOdd = (number) -> {
    if (number % 2 == 0) {
      return true;
    } else {
      return false;
    }
  };

 System.out.println(evenOdd.apply(5));
 System.out.println(evenOdd.apply(4));
}

Output:

false
true

Java Functional Interface BiFunction

Again, go the java.util package you will see the BiFunction.java

@FunctionalInterface
public interface BiFunction<T, U, R> {

R apply(T t, U u);

}

T – This is to represent the Type of the first input to the function.
U – This is to represent the Type of the second input to the function.
R – This is to represent what Type is the return type of the function.

Example 1: BiFunction that takes in two Integers and returns theirs Sum

BiFunction<Integer,Integer,Integer> getSum = (n1,n2) -> n1 + n2;
System.out.println(getSum.apply(10,20));

Output:

30

Example 2: BiFunction that takes in two Integers and returns theirs multiplied calue

BiFunction<Integer,Integer,Integer> getSum = (n1,n2) -> n1 * n2;
System.out.println(getSum.apply(10,20));

Output:

200

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