Why it matters

Pattern matching is major Java modernization. Understanding shapes idiomatic modern code.

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The architecture

instanceof pattern: 'obj instanceof Type name'. Bind on match.

Switch pattern (Java 21): 'switch (x) { case Type name -> ...; }'.

Java pattern matchinginstanceof patterntest + bindSwitch patterncase + destructureWith sealedexhaustiveRecord patterns: 'case User(String name, int age)' destructures directly
Pattern matching forms.
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How it works end to end

Record patterns: destructure records directly. 'case User(String name, int age) -> ...'.

Guards: 'case Integer i when i > 0 -> ...'.

Null handling: 'case null -> ...' explicit case.