Replace constructor with factory method

Last modified: 08 March 2021

The Replace Constructor With Factory Method refactoring lets you hide a constructor and replace it with a static method which returns a new instance of a class.

  1. Select the class constructor.

  2. On the main or context menu, select Refactor | Replace Constructor With Factory Method.

  3. In the dialog that opens, specify the name of the factory method and the class where the method should be created.

  4. Preview and apply the changes.

Example

BeforeAfter
// File Class.java
public class Class {
    public Class(String s) {
        ...
    }
}

// File AnotherClass.java
public class AnotherClass {
    public void method() {
        Class aClass = new Class("string");
    }
}
// File Class.java
public class Class {
    private Class(String s) {
        ...
    }
    public static Class createClass(String s) {
        return new Class(s);
    }
}

// File AnotherClass.java
public class AnotherClass {
    public void method() {
        Class aClass = Class.createClass("string");
    }
}

See also

Reference