Using the instanceof Keyword

If you need to verify at run time whether an object is actually an instance of a particular class, use the instanceof keyword. The instanceof keyword can only be used to verify if the target type in the expression on the right of the keyword is a viable alternative for the declared type of the expression on the left.

You could add the following check to the Report class in the classes and casting example before you cast the item back into a CustomReport object.

1If (Reports.get(0) instanceof CustomReport) {
2    // Can safely cast it back to a custom report object
3   CustomReport c = (CustomReport) Reports.get(0);
4   } Else {
5   // Do something with the non-custom-report.
6}

In Apex saved with API version 32.0 and later, instanceof returns false if the left operand is a null object. For example, the following sample returns false.

1Object o = null;
2Boolean result = o instanceof Account;
3System.assertEquals(false, result);

In API version 31.0 and earlier, instanceof returns true in this case.

Note

Apex Developer Guide

Using the instanceof Keyword