What's the meaning of the question mark inside the angle brackets: <? extends java.lang.Comparable>

Question

In App Engine, according to the JavaDoc, the getTypeRank method has this signature:

public static int getTypeRank(java.lang.Class<? extends java.lang.Comparable> datastoreType)

In the method signature there is a question mark inside the angle brackets:

<? extends java.lang.Comparable>

What does it signify?

Answer 1

? essentially indicates a wildcard. <? extends java.lang.Comparable> means "any type that extends java.lang.Comparable (or Comparable itself) can be used here".

Answer 2

? refers to any subclass of java.lang.Comparable. In other words, any class that extends java.lang.Comparable.

Answer 3

It's called bounded wildcard

<? extends Comparable> is an example of a bounded wildcard. The ? stands for an unknown type, just like the wildcards we saw earlier. However, in this case, we know that this unknown type is in fact a subtype of Comparable. (Note: It could be Comparableitself, or some subclass; it need not literally extend Comparable.)

More details you find here

Answer 4

It means "any class that implements the Comparable interface. Thus, a call would e.g. look like getTypeRank(String.class).