Name: chT40241 Date: 11/03/97


The method java.lang.Class.isAssignableFrom does not always return
 a correct result when array types are involved. A simple test case is
 is follows:
                                                                            
 public class TestCase {
   public static void main(String argv..)
   {
    int ai[][] = new int[5][5];
    Object ao[] = ai;
    ao = new Object[1];
    if (!ao.getClass().isAssignableFrom(ai.getClass()))
     System.out.println("Not assignable!");
   }
 }
                                                                            
 In this example, the class int[][] is indeed assignable to the type
 Object[], as is shown by the compiler's acceptance of the assignment
 of ai to ao, and its successful execution at run-time. However,
 the Class.isAssignable method indicates the opposite. I note that
 the documentation for isAssignableFrom specifically cites Section
 5.1.4 of the Java Language Spec, according to which this assignment is permitted.

======================================================================