Why do the new Java 8 streams return an Object Array on toArray calls? -

Why do the new Java 8 streams return an Object Array on toArray calls? -

whilst working on project involving java 8's new streams, noticed when called stream#toarray() on stream, homecoming object[] instead of t[]. surprised was, started digging source code of java 8 , couldn't find reason why didn't implement object[] toarray(); t[] toarray();. there reasoning behind this, or (in)consistency?

edit 1: noticed in answers lot of people said not possible, code snippet compiles , homecoming expected result?

import java.util.arrays; public class test<r> { private object[] items; public test(r[] items) { this.items = items; } public r[] toarray() { homecoming (r[]) items; } public static void main(string[] args) { test<integer> integertest = new test<>(new integer[]{ 1, 2, 3, 4 }); system.out.println(arrays.tostring(integertest.toarray())); } }

this same problem list#toarray() has. type erasure prevents knowing type of array should return. consider following

class custom<t> { private t t; public custom (t t) {this.t = t;} public t[] toarray() {return (t[]) new object[] {t};} // if not object[], type? } custom<string> custom = new custom("hey"); string[] arr = custom.toarray(); // fails

an object[] not string[] , hence cannot assigned one, regardless of cast. same thought applies stream , list. utilize overloaded toarray(..) method.

java java-8