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copied!<p>You cannot store types, but you can store the <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/lang/Class.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>Class</code></a> object for each class loaded by the JVM. When the JVM loads and initializes a class on the classpath, it creates a single <code>Class</code> object for that class.</p> <p>The <code>Class</code> class gives you access to a number of instance methods for performing <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/reflect/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reflection</a> on your program.</p> <blockquote> <p>Also, how might one do this and how inadvisable is it (and why)?</p> </blockquote> <p>For example</p> <pre><code>List<Class<?>> classes = new ArrayList<>(); classes.add(Example.class); </code></pre> <p>Now you can go through the elements and call different methods depending on what you want to do. If you want to create a new instance (and your class has a no-arg constructor), you can do</p> <pre><code>classes.get(0).newInstance(); </code></pre> <p>If you don't have a no-argument constructor, you will need to get <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/lang/reflect/Constructor.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>Constructor</code></a> references from the <code>Class</code> object.</p> <p>If you need to invoke methods (whether <code>static</code> or not), you need to get a <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/lang/reflect/Method.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>Method</code></a> reference. Read through the <a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/lang/Class.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">javadoc</a>.</p> <blockquote> <p>how inadvisable is it (and why)?</p> </blockquote> <p>There are some things you cannot do without reflection, but it is generally discouraged.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37628/what-is-reflection-and-why-is-it-useful">What is reflection and why is it useful?</a></li> <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/435553/java-reflection-performance">Java Reflection Performance</a></li> <li><a href="https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/123956/why-should-i-use-reflection">Why should I use reflection?</a> </li> <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1392351/java-reflection-why-is-it-so-slow">Java Reflection: Why is it so slow?</a></li> <li><a href="https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/170778/why-is-javas-reflection-package-considered-the-dark-side-of-the-force">Why is Java's reflection package considered the dark side of the force?</a></li> </ul> <hr> <p>You should try to minimize using Reflection when you can very well use the <code>Factory</code> pattern to achieve your goals in this situation. </p> <p><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20726652/java-list-of-uninstantiated-classes/20726684?noredirect=1#comment31052503_20726652">User user2864740 suggests</a></p> <blockquote> <p>I would have a list of "factories that know how to create the appropriate object", if practical - really depends upon where this data comes from and what role it has.</p> </blockquote>

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