When should you prefer MethodHandles and when should you avoid it?

MethodHandles provide a flexible and powerful mechanism for dynamic method invocation in Java, particularly useful in contexts such as frameworks and libraries that require deep reflection. However, they can introduce complexity and performance overhead in situations where simpler alternatives would suffice.

When to Prefer MethodHandles

• Dynamic Proxies: Use MethodHandles when you need dynamic method invocation for creating proxies.
• Reflection-Based APIs: Ideal for frameworks that demand flexible behavior without knowing types and methods until runtime.
• Performance Optimization: In some high-performance scenarios, where direct invocation isn’t feasible, MethodHandles can outperform traditional reflection.
• Function Pointers: Utilize them when needing to treat methods as first-class citizens, enabling functional programming styles.

When to Avoid MethodHandles

• Simple Use Cases: Opt for regular method calls when you can, as they are clearer and optimized by the JVM.
• Overhead Concerns: Avoid MethodHandles in performance-critical paths where the overhead of handling them could be detrimental.
• Code Readability: If maintainability and clarity are priorities, traditional reflection or method calls often make the code easier to understand.
• Legacy Support: If you’re maintaining older Java codebases where introducing MethodHandles may complicate things without significant benefits.