Java 8 lambda Void argument

Let's say I have the following functional interface in Java 8:

interface Action<T, U> {
   U execute(T t);
}

And for some cases I need an action without arguments or return type. So I write something like this:

Action<Void, Void> a = () -> { System.out.println("Do nothing!"); };

However, it gives me compile error, I need to write it as

Action<Void, Void> a = (Void v) -> { System.out.println("Do nothing!"); return null;};

Which is ugly. Is there any way to get rid of the Void type parameter?

Use Supplier if it takes nothing, but returns something.

Use Consumer if it takes something, but returns nothing.

Use Callable if it returns a result and might throw (most akin to Thunk in general CS terms).

Use Runnable if it does neither and cannot throw.

I think this table is short and usefull:

Supplier       ()    -> x
Consumer       x     -> ()
BiConsumer     x, y  -> ()
Callable       ()    -> x throws ex
Runnable       ()    -> ()
Function       x     -> y
BiFunction     x,y   -> z
Predicate      x     -> boolean
UnaryOperator  x1    -> x2
BinaryOperator x1,x2 -> x3

As said on the other answers, the appropriate option for this problem is a Runnable

The syntax you're after is possible with a little helper function that converts a Runnable into Action<Void, Void> (you can place it in Action for example):

public static Action<Void, Void> action(Runnable runnable) {
    return (v) -> {
        runnable.run();
        return null;
    };
}

// Somewhere else in your code
 Action<Void, Void> action = action(() -> System.out.println("foo"));

The lambda:

() -> { System.out.println("Do nothing!"); };

actually represents an implementation for an interface like:

public interface Something {
    void action();
}

which is completely different than the one you've defined. That's why you get an error.

Since you can't extend your @FunctionalInterface, nor introduce a brand new one, then I think you don't have much options. You can use the Optional<T> interfaces to denote that some of the values (return type or method parameter) is missing, though. However, this won't make the lambda body simpler.

You can create a sub-interface for that special case:

interface Command extends Action<Void, Void> {
  default Void execute(Void v) {
    execute();
    return null;
  }
  void execute();
}

It uses a default method to override the inherited parameterized method Void execute(Void), delegating the call to the simpler method void execute().

The result is that it's much simpler to use:

Command c = () -> System.out.println("Do nothing!");

I don't think it is possible, because function definitions do not match in your example.

Your lambda expression is evaluated exactly as

void action() { }

whereas your declaration looks like

Void action(Void v) {
    //must return Void type.
}

as an example, if you have following interface

public interface VoidInterface {
    public Void action(Void v);
}

the only kind of function (while instantiating) that will be compatibile looks like

new VoidInterface() {
    public Void action(Void v) {
        //do something
        return v;
    }
}

and either lack of return statement or argument will give you a compiler error.

Therefore, if you declare a function which takes an argument and returns one, I think it is impossible to convert it to function which does neither of mentioned above.

That is not possible. A function that has a non-void return type (even if it's Void) has to return a value. However you could add static methods to Action that allows you to "create" a Action:

interface Action<T, U> {
   U execute(T t);
   
   public static Action<Void, Void> create(Runnable r) {
       return (t) -> {r.run(); return null;};
   }
   
   public static <T, U> Action<T, U> create(Action<T, U> action) {
       return action;
   } 
}

That would allow you to write the following:

// create action from Runnable
Action.create(()-> System.out.println("Hello World")).execute(null);
// create normal action
System.out.println(Action.create((Integer i) -> "number: " + i).execute(100));

Add a static method inside your functional interface

package example;

interface Action<T, U> {
	   U execute(T t);
	   static  Action<Void,Void> invoke(Runnable runnable){
		   return (v) -> {
			   runnable.run();
		        return null;
		    };		   
	   }
	}
 
public class Lambda {
	
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		
		Action<Void, Void> a = Action.invoke(() -> System.out.println("Do nothing!"));
        Void t = null;
		a.execute(t);
	}
	
}

Output

Do nothing!

Just for reference which functional interface can be used for method reference in cases method throws and/or returns a value.

void notReturnsNotThrows() {};
void notReturnsThrows() throws Exception {}
String returnsNotThrows() { return ""; }
String returnsThrows() throws Exception { return ""; }

{
    Runnable r1 = this::notReturnsNotThrows; //ok
    Runnable r2 = this::notReturnsThrows; //error
    Runnable r3 = this::returnsNotThrows; //ok
    Runnable r4 = this::returnsThrows; //error

    Callable c1 = this::notReturnsNotThrows; //error
    Callable c2 = this::notReturnsThrows; //error
    Callable c3 = this::returnsNotThrows; //ok
    Callable c4 = this::returnsThrows; //ok
	
}


interface VoidCallableExtendsCallable extends Callable<Void> {
    @Override
    Void call() throws Exception;
}

interface VoidCallable {
    void call() throws Exception;
}

{
    VoidCallableExtendsCallable vcec1 = this::notReturnsNotThrows; //error
    VoidCallableExtendsCallable vcec2 = this::notReturnsThrows; //error
    VoidCallableExtendsCallable vcec3 = this::returnsNotThrows; //error
    VoidCallableExtendsCallable vcec4 = this::returnsThrows; //error

    VoidCallable vc1 = this::notReturnsNotThrows; //ok
    VoidCallable vc2 = this::notReturnsThrows; //ok
    VoidCallable vc3 = this::returnsNotThrows; //ok
    VoidCallable vc4 = this::returnsThrows; //ok
}