Difference between Graphics and Graphics2D?

Java 2D
#1

I’m wondering the difference between doing the two:


Graphics g = image.getGraphics();

// and

Graphics2D g = (Graphics2D)image.getGraphics();

?

#2

image.getGraphics() actually returns a Graphics2D object, although the return-type is Graphics.

Graphics2D is a subclass of Graphics. With Graphics2D you have more advanced features, so you might want to cast the returned object to it, to access these functions.

#3

you get a graphics2d object all the time, if you cast it to a Graphics2D you simply tell the compiler that you know that you get a Graphics2D object and therefore can use all the methods supported by graphics2d.

So if you don’t need any graphics2d method its perfectly valid to also use a plain graphics object, the same methods will be called anyway.

lg Clemens

#4

Is there any performance difference between using Graphics and Graphics2D? If Graphics2D is more complex and advanced, maybe it is also somehow accelerated or optimized?

#5

The Graphics object (in this context) is a Graphics2D object in disguise. It’s the same object. No difference.