revised TypeDescriptor NULL and element/mapKey/mapValue type semantics

org.springframework.beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/TypeConverterDelegate.java

@@ -141,8 +141,8 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 		// Value not of required type?
 		if (editor != null || (requiredType != null && !ClassUtils.isAssignableValue(requiredType, convertedValue))) {
 			if (requiredType != null && Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(requiredType) && convertedValue instanceof String) {
-				Class elemType = typeDescriptor.getElementType();
-				if (elemType != null && Enum.class.isAssignableFrom(elemType)) {
+				TypeDescriptor elementType = typeDescriptor.getElementType();
+				if (elementType != null && Enum.class.isAssignableFrom(elementType.getType())) {
 					convertedValue = StringUtils.commaDelimitedListToStringArray((String) convertedValue);
 				}
 			}
@@ -459,8 +459,8 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 			return original;
 		}
 
-		Class elementType = typeDescriptor.getElementType();
-		if (elementType == Object.class && originalAllowed &&
+		TypeDescriptor elementType = typeDescriptor.getElementType();
+		if (elementType == null && originalAllowed &&
 				!this.propertyEditorRegistry.hasCustomEditorForElement(null, propertyName)) {
 			return original;
 		}
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 			Object element = it.next();
 			String indexedPropertyName = buildIndexedPropertyName(propertyName, i);
 			Object convertedElement = convertIfNecessary(
-					indexedPropertyName, null, element, elementType, typeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+					indexedPropertyName, null, element, elementType != null ? elementType.getType() : null , typeDescriptor.getElementType());
 			try {
 				convertedCopy.add(convertedElement);
 			}
@@ -531,9 +531,9 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 			return original;
 		}
 
-		Class keyType = typeDescriptor.getMapKeyType();
-		Class valueType = typeDescriptor.getMapValueType();
-		if (keyType == Object.class && valueType == Object.class && originalAllowed &&
+		TypeDescriptor keyType = typeDescriptor.getMapKeyType();
+		TypeDescriptor valueType = typeDescriptor.getMapValueType();
+		if (keyType == null && valueType == null && originalAllowed &&
 				!this.propertyEditorRegistry.hasCustomEditorForElement(null, propertyName)) {
 			return original;
 		}
@@ -579,8 +579,8 @@ class TypeConverterDelegate {
 			Object key = entry.getKey();
 			Object value = entry.getValue();
 			String keyedPropertyName = buildKeyedPropertyName(propertyName, key);
-			Object convertedKey = convertIfNecessary(keyedPropertyName, null, key, keyType, typeDescriptor.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor());
-			Object convertedValue = convertIfNecessary(keyedPropertyName, null, value, valueType, typeDescriptor.getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
+			Object convertedKey = convertIfNecessary(keyedPropertyName, null, key, keyType != null ? keyType.getType() : null, typeDescriptor.getMapKeyType());
+			Object convertedValue = convertIfNecessary(keyedPropertyName, null, value, valueType!= null ? valueType.getType() : null, typeDescriptor.getMapValueType());
 			try {
 				convertedCopy.put(convertedKey, convertedValue);
 			}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/AbstractDescriptor.java

@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ abstract class AbstractDescriptor {
 	private final Class<?> type;
 
 	public AbstractDescriptor(Class<?> type) {
+		//if (type == null) {
+	//		throw new IllegalArgumentException("type cannot be null");
+		//}
 		this.type = type;
 	}
 	
@@ -33,31 +36,31 @@ abstract class AbstractDescriptor {
 
 	public TypeDescriptor getElementType() {
 		if (isCollection()) {
-			Class<?> elementType = wildcard(getCollectionElementClass());
-			return new TypeDescriptor(nested(elementType, 0));
+			Class<?> elementType = resolveCollectionElementType();
+			return elementType != null ? new TypeDescriptor(nested(elementType, 0)) : null;
 		} else if (isArray()) {
 			Class<?> elementType = getType().getComponentType();
 			return new TypeDescriptor(nested(elementType, 0));				
 		} else {
-			return TypeDescriptor.NULL;
+			return null;
 		}
 	}
 	
 	public TypeDescriptor getMapKeyType() {
 		if (isMap()) {
-			Class<?> keyType = wildcard(getMapKeyClass());
-			return new TypeDescriptor(nested(keyType, 0));
+			Class<?> keyType = resolveMapKeyType();
+			return keyType != null ? new TypeDescriptor(nested(keyType, 0)) : null;
 		} else {
-			return TypeDescriptor.NULL;
+			return null;
 		}
 	}
 	
 	public TypeDescriptor getMapValueType() {
 		if (isMap()) {
-			Class<?> valueType = wildcard(getMapValueClass());
-			return new TypeDescriptor(nested(valueType, 1));
+			Class<?> valueType = resolveMapValueType();
+			return valueType != null ? new TypeDescriptor(nested(valueType, 1)) : null;
 		} else {
-			return TypeDescriptor.NULL;
+			return null;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -65,11 +68,11 @@ abstract class AbstractDescriptor {
 
 	public AbstractDescriptor nested() {
 		if (isCollection()) {
-			return nested(wildcard(getCollectionElementClass()), 0);
+			return nested(resolveCollectionElementType(), 0);
 		} else if (isArray()) {
 			return nested(getType().getComponentType(), 0);
 		} else if (isMap()) {
-			return nested(wildcard(getMapValueClass()), 1);
+			return nested(resolveMapValueType(), 1);
 		} else {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Not a collection, array, or map: cannot resolve nested value types");
 		}
@@ -77,30 +80,26 @@ abstract class AbstractDescriptor {
 	
 	// subclassing hooks
 	
-	protected abstract Class<?> getCollectionElementClass();
+	protected abstract Class<?> resolveCollectionElementType();
 	
-	protected abstract Class<?> getMapKeyClass();
+	protected abstract Class<?> resolveMapKeyType();
 	
-	protected abstract Class<?> getMapValueClass();
+	protected abstract Class<?> resolveMapValueType();
 	
 	protected abstract AbstractDescriptor nested(Class<?> type, int typeIndex);
 	
 	// internal helpers
 	
 	private boolean isCollection() {
-		return Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
+		return getType() != null && Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
 	}
 	
 	private boolean isArray() {
-		return getType().isArray();
+		return getType() != null && getType().isArray();
 	}
 	
 	private boolean isMap() {
-		return Map.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
-	}
-	
-	private Class<?> wildcard(Class<?> type) {
-		return type != null ? type : Object.class;
+		return getType() != null && Map.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
 	}
 	
 }
\ No newline at end of file

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/BeanPropertyDescriptor.java

@@ -52,17 +52,17 @@ class BeanPropertyDescriptor extends AbstractDescriptor {
 	}
 	
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getCollectionElementClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveCollectionElementType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getCollectionParameterType(methodParameter);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapKeyClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapKeyType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getMapKeyParameterType(methodParameter);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapValueClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapValueType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getMapValueParameterType(methodParameter);
 	}
 

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/ClassDescriptor.java

@@ -29,18 +29,18 @@ class ClassDescriptor extends AbstractDescriptor {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getCollectionElementClass() {
-		return Object.class;
+	protected Class<?> resolveCollectionElementType() {
+		return null;
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapKeyClass() {
-		return Object.class;
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapKeyType() {
+		return null;
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapValueClass() {
-		return Object.class;
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapValueType() {
+		return null;
 	}
 
 	@Override

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/CommonElement.java

-/*
- * Copyright 2002-2011 the original author or authors.
- *
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- *
- *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- *
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-package org.springframework.core.convert;
-
-import java.util.Collection;
-import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
-import java.util.LinkedList;
-import java.util.Map;
-import java.util.Set;
-
-class CommonElement {
-	
-	private final Class<?> type;
-	
-	private final Object value;
-
-	public CommonElement(Class<?> type, Object value) {
-		this.type = type;
-		this.value = value;
-	}
-
-	public Class<?> getType() {
-		return type;
-	}
-
-	public Object getValue() {
-		return value;
-	}
-
-	public TypeDescriptor toTypeDescriptor() {
-		if (type == null) {
-			return TypeDescriptor.NULL;
-		} else if (value instanceof Collection<?>) {
-			Collection<?> collection = (Collection<?>) value;
-			return new TypeDescriptor(type, typeDescriptor(collection));			
-		}
-		else if (value instanceof Map<?, ?>) {
-			Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) value;
-			return new TypeDescriptor(type, typeDescriptor(map.keySet()), typeDescriptor(map.values()));
-		}
-		else {
-			return TypeDescriptor.valueOf(type);
-		}
-	}
-	
-	public static TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor(Collection<?> collection) {
-		return findCommonElement(collection).toTypeDescriptor();
-	}
-
-	// internal helpers
-	
-	private static CommonElement findCommonElement(Collection<?> values) {
-		Class<?> commonType = null;
-		Object candidate = null;
-		for (Object value : values) {
-			if (value != null) {
-				if (candidate == null) {
-					commonType = value.getClass();
-					candidate = value;
-				} else {
-					commonType = commonType(commonType, value.getClass());
-					if (commonType == Object.class) {
-						return new CommonElement(Object.class, null);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		return new CommonElement(commonType, candidate);
-	}
-
-	private static Class<?> commonType(Class<?> commonType, Class<?> valueClass) {
-		Set<Class<?>> interfaces = new LinkedHashSet<Class<?>>();
-		LinkedList<Class<?>> classQueue = new LinkedList<Class<?>>();
-		classQueue.addFirst(commonType);
-		while (!classQueue.isEmpty()) {
-			Class<?> currentClass = classQueue.removeLast();
-			if (currentClass.isAssignableFrom(valueClass)) {
-				return currentClass;
-			}
-			Class<?> superClass = currentClass.getSuperclass();
-			if (superClass != null && superClass != Object.class) {
-				classQueue.addFirst(currentClass.getSuperclass());
-			}
-			for (Class<?> interfaceType : currentClass.getInterfaces()) {
-				addInterfaceHierarchy(interfaceType, interfaces);
-			}
-		}
-		for (Class<?> interfaceType : interfaces) {
-			if (interfaceType.isAssignableFrom(valueClass)) {
-				return interfaceType;
-			}			
-		}
-		return Object.class;
-	}
-
-	private static void addInterfaceHierarchy(Class<?> interfaceType, Set<Class<?>> interfaces) {
-		interfaces.add(interfaceType);
-		for (Class<?> inheritedInterface : interfaceType.getInterfaces()) {
-			addInterfaceHierarchy(inheritedInterface, interfaces);
-		}
-	}
-
-}
\ No newline at end of file

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/ConversionService.java

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public interface ConversionService {
 	 * @throws ConversionException if an exception occurred
 	 */
 	<T> T convert(Object source, Class<T> targetType);
-
+	
 	/**
 	 * Returns true if objects of sourceType can be converted to the targetType.
 	 * The TypeDescriptors provide additional context about the field locations where conversion would occur, often object property locations.

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/FieldDescriptor.java

@@ -36,17 +36,17 @@ class FieldDescriptor extends AbstractDescriptor {
 	}
 	
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getCollectionElementClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveCollectionElementType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getCollectionFieldType(this.field, this.nestingLevel);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapKeyClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapKeyType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getMapKeyFieldType(this.field, this.nestingLevel);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapValueClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapValueType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getMapValueFieldType(this.field, this.nestingLevel);
 	}
 

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/ParameterDescriptor.java

@@ -43,17 +43,17 @@ class ParameterDescriptor extends AbstractDescriptor {
 	}
 	
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getCollectionElementClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveCollectionElementType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getCollectionParameterType(methodParameter);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapKeyClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapKeyType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getMapKeyParameterType(methodParameter);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	protected Class<?> getMapValueClass() {
+	protected Class<?> resolveMapValueType() {
 		return GenericCollectionTypeResolver.getMapValueParameterType(methodParameter);
 	}
 

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/TypeDescriptor.java

@@ -38,9 +38,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 
 	static final Annotation[] EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY = new Annotation[0];
 
-	/** Constant defining a TypeDescriptor for a <code>null</code> value */
-	public static final TypeDescriptor NULL = new TypeDescriptor();
-
 	private static final Map<Class<?>, TypeDescriptor> typeDescriptorCache = new HashMap<Class<?>, TypeDescriptor>();
 
 	static {
@@ -63,7 +60,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		typeDescriptorCache.put(String.class, new TypeDescriptor(String.class));
 	}
 
-
 	private final Class<?> type;
 
 	private final TypeDescriptor elementType;
@@ -110,9 +106,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 	 * @return the type descriptor
 	 */
 	public static TypeDescriptor valueOf(Class<?> type) {
-		if (type == null) {
-			return NULL;
-		}
 		TypeDescriptor desc = typeDescriptorCache.get(type);
 		return (desc != null ? desc : new TypeDescriptor(type));
 	}
@@ -148,37 +141,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		return new TypeDescriptor(mapType, keyType, valueType);
 	}
 	
-	/**
-	 * Create a new type descriptor for an object.
-	 * Use this factory method to introspect a source object's type before asking the conversion system to convert it to some another type.
-	 * Populates nested type descriptors for collection and map objects through object introspection.
-	 * If the provided object is null, returns {@link TypeDescriptor#NULL}.
-	 * If the object is not a collection or map, simply calls {@link #valueOf(Class)}.
-	 * If the object is a collection or map, this factory method will derive nested element or key/value types by introspecting the collection or map.
-	 * The introspection algorithm derives nested element or key/value types by resolving the "common element type" across the collection or map.
-	 * For example, if a Collection contained all java.lang.Integer elements, its element type would be java.lang.Integer.
-	 * If a Collection contained several distinct number types all extending from java.lang.Number, its element type would be java.lang.Number.
-	 * If a Collection contained a String and a java.util.Map element, its element type would be java.io.Serializable.
-	 * @param object the source object
-	 * @return the type descriptor
-	 * @see ConversionService#convert(Object, Class)
-	 */
-	public static TypeDescriptor forObject(Object object) {
-		if (object == null) {
-			return NULL;
-		}
-		if (object instanceof Collection<?>) {
-			return new TypeDescriptor(object.getClass(), CommonElement.typeDescriptor((Collection<?>) object));
-		}
-		else if (object instanceof Map<?, ?>) {
-			Map<?, ?> map = (Map<?, ?>) object;
-			return new TypeDescriptor(map.getClass(), CommonElement.typeDescriptor(map.keySet()), CommonElement.typeDescriptor(map.values()));
-		}
-		else {
-			return valueOf(object.getClass());
-		}
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Creates a type descriptor for a nested type declared within the method parameter.
 	 * For example, if the methodParameter is a List&lt;String&gt; and the nestingLevel is 1, the nested type descriptor will be String.class.
@@ -224,6 +186,10 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		return nested(new BeanPropertyDescriptor(beanClass, property), nestingLevel);
 	}
 
+	public static TypeDescriptor forObject(Object source) {
+		return source != null ? valueOf(source.getClass()) : null;
+	}
+	
 	/**
 	 * Determine the declared (non-generic) type of the wrapped parameter/field.
 	 * @return the declared type, or <code>null</code> if this is {@link TypeDescriptor#NULL}
@@ -237,21 +203,27 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 	 * Returns the Object wrapper type if the underlying type is a primitive.
 	 */
 	public Class<?> getObjectType() {
-		return getType() != null ? ClassUtils.resolvePrimitiveIfNecessary(getType()) : null;
+		return ClassUtils.resolvePrimitiveIfNecessary(getType());
 	}
 
+	public TypeDescriptor narrowType(Object value) {
+		if (value == null) {
+			return this;
+		}
+		return new TypeDescriptor(value.getClass(), elementType, mapKeyType, mapValueType, annotations);
+	}
 	/**
 	 * Returns the name of this type: the fully qualified class name.
 	 */
 	public String getName() {
-		return getType() != null ? ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(getType()) : null;
+		return ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(getType());
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Is this type a primitive type?
 	 */
 	public boolean isPrimitive() {
-		return getType() != null && getType().isPrimitive();
+		return getType().isPrimitive();
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -281,21 +253,19 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 	 * @return true if this type is assignable to the target
 	 */
 	public boolean isAssignableTo(TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		if (this == TypeDescriptor.NULL || targetType == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
-			return true;
-		}
-		if (isCollection() && targetType.isCollection() || isArray() && targetType.isArray()) {
-			return targetType.getType().isAssignableFrom(getType()) &&
-					getElementTypeDescriptor().isAssignableTo(targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		boolean typesAssignable = targetType.getObjectType().isAssignableFrom(getObjectType());
+		if (!typesAssignable) {
+			return false;
 		}
-		else if (isMap() && targetType.isMap()) {
-			return targetType.getType().isAssignableFrom(getType()) &&
-					getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().isAssignableTo(targetType.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor()) &&
-					getMapValueTypeDescriptor().isAssignableTo(targetType.getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
+		if (isArray() && targetType.isArray()) {
+			return getElementType().isAssignableTo(targetType.getElementType());
 		}
-		else {
-			return targetType.getObjectType().isAssignableFrom(getObjectType());
+		if (isCollection() && targetType.isCollection()) {
+			return collectionElementsAssignable(targetType.getElementType());
+		} else if (isMap() && targetType.isMap()) {
+			return mapKeysAssignable(targetType.getMapKeyType()) && mapValuesAssignable(targetType.getMapValueType());
 		}
+		return true;
 	}
 
 	// indexable type descriptor operations
@@ -304,53 +274,36 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 	 * Is this type a {@link Collection} type?
 	 */
 	public boolean isCollection() {
-		return getType() != null && Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
+		return Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Is this type an array type?
 	 */
 	public boolean isArray() {
-		return getType() != null && getType().isArray();
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * If this type is a {@link Collection} or array, returns the underlying element type.
-	 * Returns Object.class if this type is a collection and the element type was not explicitly declared.
-	 * @return the map element type, or <code>null</code> if not a collection or array.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this descriptor is not for a java.util.Collection or Array
-	 */
-	public Class<?> getElementType() {
-		return getElementTypeDescriptor().getType();
+		return getType().isArray();
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * The collection or array element type as a type descriptor.
-	 * Returns TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Object.class) if this type is a collection and the element type is not explicitly declared.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this descriptor is not for a java.util.Collection or Array
+	 * If this type is an array, returns the array's component type.
+	 * If this type is a {@link Collection} and it is parameterized, returns the Collection's element type.
+	 * If the Collection is not parameterized, returns null indicating the element type is not declared.
+	 * @return the array component type or Collection element type, or <code>null</code> if this type is a Collection but its element type is not parameterized.
+	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this type is not a java.util.Collection or Array type
 	 */
-	public TypeDescriptor getElementTypeDescriptor() {
+	public TypeDescriptor getElementType() {
 		if (!isCollection() && !isArray()) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Not a java.util.Collection or Array");
 		}
 		return this.elementType;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Returns a copy of this type descriptor that has its elementType populated from the specified Collection.
-	 * This property will be set by calculating the "common element type" of the specified Collection.
-	 * For example, if the collection contains String elements, the returned TypeDescriptor will have its elementType set to String.
-	 * This method is designed to be used when converting values read from Collection fields or method return values that are not parameterized e.g. Collection vs. Collection<String>
-	 * In this scenario the elementType will be Object.class before invoking this method.
-	 * @param colection the collection to derive the elementType from
-	 * @return a new TypeDescriptor with the resolved elementType property
-	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if this is not a type descriptor for a java.util.Collection.
-	 */
-	public TypeDescriptor resolveCollectionElementType(Collection<?> collection) {
-		if (!isCollection()) {
-			throw new IllegalStateException("Not a java.util.Collection");
-		}		
-		return new TypeDescriptor(type, CommonElement.typeDescriptor(collection), mapKeyType, mapValueType, annotations);
+	public TypeDescriptor elementType(Object element) {
+		if (elementType != null) {
+			return elementType.narrowType(element);
+		} else {
+			return element != null ? new TypeDescriptor(element.getClass(), null, null, null, annotations) : null;
+		}
 	}
 
 	// map type descriptor operations
@@ -359,71 +312,51 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 	 * Is this type a {@link Map} type?
 	 */
 	public boolean isMap() {
-		return getType() != null && Map.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
+		return Map.class.isAssignableFrom(getType());
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * If this type is a {@link Map}, returns the underlying key type.
-	 * Returns Object.class if this type is a map and its key type was not explicitly declared.
-	 * @return the map key type, or <code>null</code> if not a map.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this descriptor is not for a java.util.Map
+	 * If this type is a {@link Map} and its key type is parameterized, returns the map's key type.
+	 * If the Map's key type is not parameterized, returns null indicating the key type is not declared.
+	 * @return the Map key type, or <code>null</code> if this type is a Map but its key type is not parameterized.
+	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this type is not a java.util.Map.
 	 */
-	public Class<?> getMapKeyType() {
-		return getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getType();
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * The map key type as a type descriptor.
-	 * Returns TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Object.class) if this type is a map and the key type is not explicitly declared.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this descriptor is not for a java.util.Map
-	 */
-	public TypeDescriptor getMapKeyTypeDescriptor() {
+	public TypeDescriptor getMapKeyType() {
 		if (!isMap()) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Not a map");
 		}
 		return this.mapKeyType;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * If this type is a {@link Map}, returns the underlying value type.
-	 * Returns <code>null</code> if this type is not map.
-	 * Returns Object.class if this type is a map and its value type was not explicitly declared.
-	 * @return the map value type, or <code>null</code> if not a map.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this descriptor is not for a java.util.Map
-	 */
-	public Class<?> getMapValueType() {
-		return getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getType();
+	public TypeDescriptor mapKeyType(Object mapKey) {
+		if (mapKeyType != null) {
+			return mapKeyType.narrowType(mapKey);
+		} else {
+			return mapKey != null ? new TypeDescriptor(mapKey.getClass(), null, null, null, annotations) : null;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * The map value type as a type descriptor.
-	 * Returns TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Object.class) if this type is a map and the value type is not explicitly declared.
-	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this descriptor is not for a java.util.Map
+	 * If this type is a {@link Map} and its value type is parameterized, returns the map's value type.
+	 * If the Map's value type is not parameterized, returns null indicating the value type is not declared.
+	 * @return the Map value type, or <code>null</code> if this type is a Map but its value type is not parameterized.
+	 * @throws IllegalStateException if this type is not a java.util.Map.
 	 */
-	public TypeDescriptor getMapValueTypeDescriptor() {
+	public TypeDescriptor getMapValueType() {
 		if (!isMap()) {
 			throw new IllegalStateException("Not a map");
 		}
 		return this.mapValueType;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Returns a copy of this type descriptor that has its mapKeyType and mapValueType properties populated from the specified Map.
-	 * These properties will be set by calculating the "common element type" of the specified Map's keySet and values collection.
-	 * For example, if the Map contains String keys and Integer values, the returned TypeDescriptor will have its mapKeyType set to String and its mapValueType to Integer.
-	 * This method is designed to be used when converting values read from Map fields or method return values that are not parameterized e.g. Map vs. Map<String, Integer>.
-	 * In this scenario the key and value types will be Object.class before invoking this method.
-	 * @param map the map to derive key and value types from
-	 * @return a new TypeDescriptor with the resolved mapKeyType and mapValueType properties
-	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if this is not a type descriptor for a java.util.Map.
-	 */
-	public TypeDescriptor resolveMapKeyValueTypes(Map<?, ?> map) {
-		if (!isMap()) {
-			throw new IllegalStateException("Not a java.util.Map");
+	public TypeDescriptor mapValueType(Object mapValue) {
+		if (mapValueType != null) {
+			return mapValueType.narrowType(mapValue);
+		} else {
+			return mapValue != null ? new TypeDescriptor(mapValue.getClass(), null, null, null, annotations) : null;
 		}
-		return new TypeDescriptor(type, elementType, CommonElement.typeDescriptor(map.keySet()), CommonElement.typeDescriptor(map.values()), annotations);
 	}
-	
+
 	// extending Object
 	
 	public boolean equals(Object obj) {
@@ -450,29 +383,24 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 	}
 
 	public int hashCode() {
-		return (this == TypeDescriptor.NULL ? 0 : getType().hashCode());
+		return getType().hashCode();
 	}
 
 	public String toString() {
-		if (this == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
-			return "null";
+		StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
+		Annotation[] anns = getAnnotations();
+		for (Annotation ann : anns) {
+			builder.append("@").append(ann.annotationType().getName()).append(' ');
 		}
-		else {
-			StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
-			Annotation[] anns = getAnnotations();
-			for (Annotation ann : anns) {
-				builder.append("@").append(ann.annotationType().getName()).append(' ');
-			}
-			builder.append(ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(getType()));
-			if (isMap()) {
-				builder.append("<").append(getMapKeyTypeDescriptor());
-				builder.append(", ").append(getMapValueTypeDescriptor()).append(">");
-			}
-			else if (isCollection()) {
-				builder.append("<").append(getElementTypeDescriptor()).append(">");
-			}
-			return builder.toString();
+		builder.append(ClassUtils.getQualifiedName(getType()));
+		if (isMap()) {
+			builder.append("<").append(wildcard(getMapKeyType()));
+			builder.append(", ").append(wildcard(getMapValueType())).append(">");
+		}
+		else if (isCollection()) {
+			builder.append("<").append(wildcard(getElementType())).append(">");
 		}
+		return builder.toString();
 	}
 
 	// package private
@@ -485,14 +413,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		this.annotations = descriptor.getAnnotations();
 	}
 
-	TypeDescriptor(Class<?> collectionType, TypeDescriptor elementType) {
-		this(collectionType, elementType, TypeDescriptor.NULL, TypeDescriptor.NULL, EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY);
-	}
-
-	TypeDescriptor(Class<?> mapType, TypeDescriptor keyType, TypeDescriptor valueType) {
-		this(mapType, TypeDescriptor.NULL, keyType, valueType, EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY);
-	}
-
 	static Annotation[] nullSafeAnnotations(Annotation[] annotations) {
 		return annotations != null ? annotations : EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY;
 	}
@@ -503,8 +423,12 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		this(new ClassDescriptor(type));
 	}
 
-	private TypeDescriptor() {
-		this(null, TypeDescriptor.NULL, TypeDescriptor.NULL, TypeDescriptor.NULL, EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY);
+	private TypeDescriptor(Class<?> collectionType, TypeDescriptor elementType) {
+		this(collectionType, elementType, null, null, EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY);
+	}
+
+	private TypeDescriptor(Class<?> mapType, TypeDescriptor keyType, TypeDescriptor valueType) {
+		this(mapType, null, keyType, valueType, EMPTY_ANNOTATION_ARRAY);
 	}
 
 	private TypeDescriptor(Class<?> type, TypeDescriptor elementType, TypeDescriptor mapKeyType, TypeDescriptor mapValueType, Annotation[] annotations) {
@@ -515,8 +439,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		this.annotations = annotations;
 	}
 
-	// internal helpers
-	
 	private static TypeDescriptor nested(AbstractDescriptor descriptor, int nestingLevel) {
 		for (int i = 0; i < nestingLevel; i++) {
 			descriptor = descriptor.nested();
@@ -524,4 +446,43 @@ public class TypeDescriptor {
 		return new TypeDescriptor(descriptor);		
 	}
 
+	// internal helpers
+
+	private boolean mapKeysAssignable(TypeDescriptor targetKeyType) {
+		TypeDescriptor keyType = getMapKeyType();
+		if (targetKeyType == null) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if (keyType == null) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return keyType.isAssignableTo(targetKeyType);		
+	}
+
+	private boolean collectionElementsAssignable(TypeDescriptor targetElementType) {
+		TypeDescriptor elementType = getElementType();
+		if (targetElementType == null) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if (elementType == null) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return elementType.isAssignableTo(targetElementType);				
+	}
+	
+	private boolean mapValuesAssignable(TypeDescriptor targetValueType) {
+		TypeDescriptor valueType = getMapValueType();
+		if (targetValueType == null) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if (valueType == null) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return valueType.isAssignableTo(targetValueType);		
+	}
+
+	private String wildcard(TypeDescriptor nestedType) {
+		return nestedType != null ? nestedType.toString() : "?";
+	}
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ArrayToArrayConverter.java

@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ final class ArrayToArrayConverter implements GenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Object[].class, Object[].class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.helperConverter.matches(sourceType, targetType);
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {		
 		return this.helperConverter.convert(Arrays.asList(ObjectUtils.toObjectArray(source)), sourceType, targetType);
 	}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ArrayToCollectionConverter.java

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import org.springframework.core.CollectionFactory;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts an Array to a Collection.
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class ArrayToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class ArrayToCollectionConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -48,10 +48,6 @@ final class ArrayToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Object[].class, Collection.class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-	}
-
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
@@ -59,9 +55,7 @@ final class ArrayToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		}		
 		int length = Array.getLength(source);
 		Collection<Object> target = CollectionFactory.createCollection(targetType.getType(), length);
-		TypeDescriptor sourceElementType = sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		TypeDescriptor targetElementType = targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		if (Object.class.equals(targetElementType.getType())) {
+		if (targetType.getElementType() == null) {
 			for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
 				Object sourceElement = Array.get(source, i);
 				target.add(sourceElement);
@@ -69,7 +63,7 @@ final class ArrayToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		} else {
 			for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
 				Object sourceElement = Array.get(source, i);
-				Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceElementType, targetElementType);
+				Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceType.elementType(sourceElement), targetType.getElementType());
 				target.add(targetElement);
 			}
 		}		

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ArrayToObjectConverter.java

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 
 /**
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class ArrayToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class ArrayToObjectConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final CollectionToObjectConverter helperConverter;
 
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ final class ArrayToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Object[].class, Object.class));
 	}
 	
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.helperConverter.matches(sourceType, targetType);
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		return this.helperConverter.convert(Arrays.asList(ObjectUtils.toObjectArray(source)), sourceType, targetType);
 	}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ArrayToStringConverter.java

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 
 /**
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class ArrayToStringConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class ArrayToStringConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final CollectionToStringConverter helperConverter;
 
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ final class ArrayToStringConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Object[].class, String.class));
 	}
 	
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.helperConverter.matches(sourceType, targetType);
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		return this.helperConverter.convert(Arrays.asList(ObjectUtils.toObjectArray(source)), sourceType, targetType);
 	}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/CollectionToArrayConverter.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts a Collection to an array.
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class CollectionToArrayConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class CollectionToArrayConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -48,20 +48,15 @@ final class CollectionToArrayConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Collection.class, Object[].class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
 			return null;
 		}
 		Collection<?> sourceCollection = (Collection<?>) source;
-		TypeDescriptor targetElementType = targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		Object array = Array.newInstance(targetElementType.getType(), sourceCollection.size());
+		Object array = Array.newInstance(targetType.getElementType().getType(), sourceCollection.size());
 		int i = 0;
 		for (Object sourceElement : sourceCollection) {
-			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetElementType);
+			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceType.elementType(sourceElement), targetType.getElementType());
 			Array.set(array, i++, targetElement);
 		}
 		return array;

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/CollectionToCollectionConverter.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import org.springframework.core.CollectionFactory;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts from a Collection to another Collection.
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class CollectionToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class CollectionToCollectionConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -48,12 +48,6 @@ final class CollectionToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConvert
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Collection.class, Collection.class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		TypeDescriptor sourceElementType = sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		TypeDescriptor targetElementType = targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceElementType, targetElementType);
-	}
-	
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
@@ -61,17 +55,15 @@ final class CollectionToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConvert
 		}
 		Collection<?> sourceCollection = (Collection<?>) source;
 		Collection<Object> target = CollectionFactory.createCollection(targetType.getType(), sourceCollection.size());
-		TypeDescriptor sourceElementType = sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		TypeDescriptor targetElementType = targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		if (Object.class.equals(targetElementType.getType())) {
-			for (Object sourceElement : sourceCollection) {
-				target.add(sourceElement);
-			}			
+		if (targetType.getElementType() == null) {
+			for (Object element : sourceCollection) {
+				target.add(element);
+			}
 		} else {
 			for (Object sourceElement : sourceCollection) {
-				Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceElementType, targetElementType);
+				Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceType.elementType(sourceElement), targetType.getElementType());
 				target.add(targetElement);
-			}			
+			}
 		}
 		return target;
 	}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/CollectionToObjectConverter.java

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts a Collection to an Object by returning the first collection element after converting it to the desired targetType.
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class CollectionToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class CollectionToObjectConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ final class CollectionToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Collection.class, Object.class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetType);
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
 			return null;
@@ -55,7 +51,7 @@ final class CollectionToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 			return null;
 		}
 		Object firstElement = sourceCollection.iterator().next();
-		return this.conversionService.convert(firstElement, sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetType);
+		return this.conversionService.convert(firstElement, sourceType.elementType(firstElement), targetType);
 	}
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/CollectionToStringConverter.java

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts a Collection to a comma-delimited String.
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class CollectionToStringConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class CollectionToStringConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private static final String DELIMITER = ",";
 
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ final class CollectionToStringConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Collection.class, String.class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetType);
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
 			return null;
@@ -56,17 +52,17 @@ final class CollectionToStringConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		if (sourceCollection.size() == 0) {
 			return "";
 		}
-		StringBuilder string = new StringBuilder();
+		StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
 		int i = 0;
 		for (Object sourceElement : sourceCollection) {
 			if (i > 0) {
-				string.append(DELIMITER);
+				sb.append(DELIMITER);
 			}
-			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceType.getElementTypeDescriptor(), targetType);
-			string.append(targetElement);
+			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement, sourceType.elementType(sourceElement), targetType);
+			sb.append(targetElement);
 			i++;
 		}
-		return string.toString();
+		return sb.toString();
 	}
 
 }

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/GenericConversionService.java

@@ -138,18 +138,16 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConfigurableConversionService {
 
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public <T> T convert(Object source, Class<T> targetType) {
+		if (targetType == null) {
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("The targetType to convert to cannot be null");
+		}		
 		return (T) convert(source, TypeDescriptor.forObject(source), TypeDescriptor.valueOf(targetType));
 	}
 
 	public boolean canConvert(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		assertNotNull(sourceType, targetType);
 		if (logger.isTraceEnabled()) {
 			logger.trace("Checking if I can convert " + sourceType + " to " + targetType);
 		}		
-		if (sourceType == TypeDescriptor.NULL || targetType == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
-			logger.trace("Yes, I can convert");
-			return true;
-		}
 		GenericConverter converter = getConverter(sourceType, targetType);
 		if (converter != null) {
 			logger.trace("Yes, I can convert");
@@ -162,21 +160,19 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConfigurableConversionService {
 	}
 
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		assertNotNull(sourceType, targetType);
-		if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
-			logger.debug("Converting value " + StylerUtils.style(source) + " of " + sourceType + " to " + targetType);
+		if (targetType == null) {
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("The targetType to convert to cannot be null");
 		}
-		if (sourceType == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
+		if (sourceType == null) {
 			Assert.isTrue(source == null, "The source must be [null] if sourceType == [null]");
 			return handleResult(sourceType, targetType, convertNullSource(sourceType, targetType));
 		}
-		if (targetType == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
-			logger.debug("Converted to null");
-			return null;
-		}
 		if (source != null && !sourceType.getObjectType().isInstance(source)) {
 			throw new IllegalArgumentException("The source to convert from must be an instance of " + sourceType + "; instead it was a " + source.getClass().getName());
 		}
+		if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
+			logger.debug("Converting value " + StylerUtils.style(source) + " of " + sourceType + " to " + targetType);
+		}
 		GenericConverter converter = getConverter(sourceType, targetType);
 		if (converter != null) {
 			return handleResult(sourceType, targetType, ConversionUtils.invokeConverter(converter, source, sourceType, targetType));
@@ -236,30 +232,26 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConfigurableConversionService {
 			if (logger.isTraceEnabled()) {
 				logger.trace("Matched cached converter " + converter);
 			}
-			return (converter != NO_MATCH ? converter : null);
+			return converter != NO_MATCH ? converter : null;
 		}
 		else {
 			converter = findConverterForClassPair(sourceType, targetType);
+			if (converter == null) {
+				converter = getDefaultConverter(sourceType, targetType);				
+			}
 			if (converter != null) {
 				if (logger.isTraceEnabled()) {
-					logger.trace("Caching under " + key);
+					logger.trace("Caching matched Converter under key " + key);
 				}
 				this.converterCache.put(key, converter);
 				return converter;
-			}
-			converter = getDefaultConverter(sourceType, targetType);
-			if (converter != null) {
+			} else {
 				if (logger.isTraceEnabled()) {
-					logger.trace("Caching under " + key);
+					logger.trace("Caching Converter [NO_MATCH] result under key " + key);
 				}
-				this.converterCache.put(key, converter);
-				return converter;				
+				this.converterCache.put(key, NO_MATCH);
+				return null;
 			}
-			if (logger.isTraceEnabled()) {
-				logger.trace("Caching NO_MATCH under " + key);
-			}
-			this.converterCache.put(key, NO_MATCH);
-			return null;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -312,11 +304,6 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConfigurableConversionService {
 		return sourceMap;
 	}
 
-	private void assertNotNull(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		Assert.notNull(sourceType, "The sourceType to convert from is required");
-		Assert.notNull(targetType, "The targetType to convert to is required");
-	}
-
 	private GenericConverter findConverterForClassPair(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		Class<?> sourceObjectType = sourceType.getObjectType();
 		if (sourceObjectType.isInterface()) {

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/MapToMapConverter.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import org.springframework.core.CollectionFactory;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts a Map to another Map.
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class MapToMapConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class MapToMapConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -48,11 +48,6 @@ final class MapToMapConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Map.class, Map.class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor(), targetType.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor()) && 
-			this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType.getMapValueTypeDescriptor(), targetType.getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
-	}
-
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
@@ -60,24 +55,30 @@ final class MapToMapConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		}
 		Map<Object, Object> sourceMap = (Map<Object, Object>) source;
 		Map<Object, Object> targetMap = CollectionFactory.createMap(targetType.getType(), sourceMap.size());
-		TypeDescriptor sourceKeyType = sourceType.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor();
-		TypeDescriptor targetKeyType = targetType.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor();
-		TypeDescriptor sourceValueType = sourceType.getMapValueTypeDescriptor();
-		TypeDescriptor targetValueType = targetType.getMapValueTypeDescriptor();
-		if (Object.class.equals(targetKeyType.getType()) && Object.class.equals(targetValueType.getType())) {
-			for (Map.Entry<Object, Object> entry : sourceMap.entrySet()) {
-				targetMap.put(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue());
-			}
-		} else {
-			for (Map.Entry<Object, Object> entry : sourceMap.entrySet()) {
-				Object sourceKey = entry.getKey();
-				Object sourceValue = entry.getValue();
-				Object targetKey = this.conversionService.convert(sourceKey, sourceKeyType, targetKeyType);
-				Object targetValue = this.conversionService.convert(sourceValue, sourceValueType, targetValueType);
-				targetMap.put(targetKey, targetValue);
-			}			
+		for (Map.Entry<Object, Object> entry : sourceMap.entrySet()) {
+			Object sourceKey = entry.getKey();
+			Object sourceValue = entry.getValue();
+			Object targetKey = convertKey(sourceKey, sourceType, targetType.getMapKeyType());
+			Object targetValue = convertValue(sourceValue, sourceType, targetType.getMapValueType());
+			targetMap.put(targetKey, targetValue);
 		}
 		return targetMap;
 	}
 	
+	// internal helpers
+	
+	private Object convertKey(Object sourceKey, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
+		if (targetType == null) {
+			return sourceKey;
+		}
+		return this.conversionService.convert(sourceKey, sourceType.mapKeyType(sourceKey), targetType);
+	}
+
+	private Object convertValue(Object sourceValue, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
+		if (targetType == null) {
+			return sourceValue;
+		}
+		return this.conversionService.convert(sourceValue, sourceType.mapValueType(sourceValue), targetType);
+	}
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ObjectToArrayConverter.java

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts an Object to a single-element Array containing the Object.
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class ObjectToArrayConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class ObjectToArrayConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -43,16 +43,12 @@ final class ObjectToArrayConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Object.class, Object[].class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
 			return null;
 		}
-		Object target = Array.newInstance(targetType.getElementType(), 1);
-		Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(source, sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		Object target = Array.newInstance(targetType.getElementType().getType(), 1);
+		Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(source, sourceType, targetType.getElementType());
 		Array.set(target, 0, targetElement);
 		return target;
 	}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ObjectToCollectionConverter.java

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import org.springframework.core.CollectionFactory;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 
 /**
  * Converts an Object to a single-element Collection containing the Object.
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
  * @author Juergen Hoeller
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class ObjectToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class ObjectToCollectionConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -45,22 +45,17 @@ final class ObjectToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(Object.class, Collection.class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-	}
-
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
 			return null;
 		}
 		Collection<Object> target = CollectionFactory.createCollection(targetType.getType(), 1);
-		TypeDescriptor targetElementType = targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor();
-		// Avoid potential recursion....
-		if (targetElementType.isCollection()) {
+		if (targetType.getElementType() == null || targetType.getElementType().isCollection()) {
 			target.add(source);			
 		} else {
-			target.add(this.conversionService.convert(source, sourceType, targetElementType));
+			Object singleElement = this.conversionService.convert(source, sourceType, targetType.getElementType());
+			target.add(singleElement);
 		}
 		return target;
 	}

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/ObjectToObjectConverter.java

@@ -48,9 +48,7 @@ final class ObjectToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 	}
 
 	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		Class<?> source = sourceType.getType();
-		Class<?> target = targetType.getType();
-		return !source.equals(target) && hasValueOfMethodOrConstructor(target, source);
+		return !sourceType.equals(targetType) && hasValueOfMethodOrConstructor(targetType.getType(), sourceType.getType());
 	}
 
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
@@ -79,16 +77,16 @@ final class ObjectToObjectConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 				") method or Constructor(" + sourceClass.getName() + ") exists on " + targetClass.getName());
 	}
 
-	public static boolean hasValueOfMethodOrConstructor(Class<?> targetClass, Class<?> sourceClass) {
-		return getValueOfMethodOn(targetClass, sourceClass) != null || getConstructor(targetClass, sourceClass) != null;
+	static boolean hasValueOfMethodOrConstructor(Class<?> clazz, Class<?> sourceParameterType) {
+		return getValueOfMethodOn(clazz, sourceParameterType) != null || getConstructor(clazz, sourceParameterType) != null;
 	}
 
-	private static Method getValueOfMethodOn(Class<?> targetClass, Class<?> sourceClass) {
-		return ClassUtils.getStaticMethod(targetClass, "valueOf", sourceClass);
+	private static Method getValueOfMethodOn(Class<?> clazz, Class<?> sourceParameterType) {
+		return ClassUtils.getStaticMethod(clazz, "valueOf", sourceParameterType);
 	}
 	
-	private static Constructor<?> getConstructor(Class<?> targetClass, Class<?> sourceClass) {
-		return ClassUtils.getConstructorIfAvailable(targetClass, sourceClass);
+	private static Constructor<?> getConstructor(Class<?> clazz, Class<?> sourceParameterType) {
+		return ClassUtils.getConstructorIfAvailable(clazz, sourceParameterType);
 	}
 
 }

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/StringToArrayConverter.java

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
-import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.ConditionalGenericConverter;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.converter.GenericConverter;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 
 /**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
  * @author Keith Donald
  * @since 3.0
  */
-final class StringToArrayConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
+final class StringToArrayConverter implements GenericConverter {
 
 	private final ConversionService conversionService;
 
@@ -43,20 +43,16 @@ final class StringToArrayConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		return Collections.singleton(new ConvertiblePair(String.class, Object[].class));
 	}
 
-	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-	}
-
 	public Object convert(Object source, TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		if (source == null) {
 			return null;
 		}		
 		String string = (String) source;
 		String[] fields = StringUtils.commaDelimitedListToStringArray(string);
-		Object target = Array.newInstance(targetType.getElementType(), fields.length);
+		Object target = Array.newInstance(targetType.getElementType().getType(), fields.length);
 		for (int i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
 			String sourceElement = fields[i];
-			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement.trim(), sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement.trim(), sourceType, targetType.getElementType());
 			Array.set(target, i, targetElement);
 		}
 		return target;

org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/StringToCollectionConverter.java

@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ final class StringToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 	}
 
 	public boolean matches(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
-		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		if (targetType.getElementType() == null) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		return this.conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType.getElementType());
 	}
 
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
@@ -56,11 +59,17 @@ final class StringToCollectionConverter implements ConditionalGenericConverter {
 		String string = (String) source;
 		String[] fields = StringUtils.commaDelimitedListToStringArray(string);
 		Collection<Object> target = CollectionFactory.createCollection(targetType.getType(), fields.length);
-		for (String sourceElement : fields) {
-			Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(sourceElement.trim(), sourceType, targetType.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-			target.add(targetElement);
+		if (targetType.getElementType() == null) {
+			for (String field : fields) {
+				target.add(field.trim());
+			}						
+		} else {
+			for (String field : fields) {
+				Object targetElement = this.conversionService.convert(field.trim(), sourceType, targetType.getElementType());
+				target.add(targetElement);
+			}			
 		}
 		return target;
 	}
 
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file

org.springframework.core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/convert/TypeDescriptorTests.java

@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.HashMap;
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Test;
-import org.springframework.core.GenericCollectionTypeResolver;
 import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
 
 /**
@@ -62,18 +60,6 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 
 	public Map<String, List<Integer>> nestedMapField = new HashMap<String, List<Integer>>();
 
-	@Test
-	public void nullTypeDescriptor() {
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.NULL;
-		assertEquals(false, desc.isMap());
-		assertEquals(false, desc.isCollection());
-		assertEquals(false, desc.isArray());
-		assertEquals(null, desc.getType());
-		assertEquals(null, desc.getObjectType());
-		assertEquals(null, desc.getName());
-		assertEquals(0, desc.getAnnotations().length);
-	}
-	
 	@Test
 	public void parameterPrimitive() throws Exception {
 		TypeDescriptor desc = new TypeDescriptor(new MethodParameter(getClass().getMethod("testParameterPrimitive", int.class), 0));
@@ -121,12 +107,12 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertEquals(0, desc.getAnnotations().length);
 		assertTrue(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());
-		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 1), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 2), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 3), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor().getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor().getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getType());
-		assertEquals(Enum.class, desc.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor().getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getType());
+		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getElementType().getType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 1), desc.getElementType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 2), desc.getElementType().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 3), desc.getElementType().getElementType().getMapValueType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType().getElementType().getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(Enum.class, desc.getElementType().getElementType().getMapValueType().getType());
 		assertFalse(desc.isMap());
 	}
 
@@ -141,13 +127,12 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getType());
 		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getObjectType());
 		assertEquals("java.util.List", desc.getName());
-		assertEquals("java.util.List<java.lang.Object>", desc.toString());
+		assertEquals("java.util.List<?>", desc.toString());
 		assertTrue(!desc.isPrimitive());
 		assertEquals(0, desc.getAnnotations().length);
 		assertTrue(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());		
-		assertEquals(Object.class, desc.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Object.class), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		assertNull(desc.getElementType());
 		assertFalse(desc.isMap());
 	}
 
@@ -167,8 +152,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertEquals(0, desc.getAnnotations().length);
 		assertFalse(desc.isCollection());
 		assertTrue(desc.isArray());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType().getType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class), desc.getElementType());
 		assertFalse(desc.isMap());
 	}
 
@@ -189,11 +174,11 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertFalse(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());
 		assertTrue(desc.isMap());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 1), desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 2), desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getType());
-		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor().getType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 1), desc.getMapValueType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.nested(methodParameter, 2), desc.getMapValueType().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getMapValueType().getType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapValueType().getElementType().getType());
 	}
 
 	public void testParameterMap(Map<Integer, List<String>> map) {
@@ -222,8 +207,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 	public void propertyComplex() throws Exception {
 		PropertyDescriptor property = new PropertyDescriptor("complexProperty", getClass().getMethod("getComplexProperty", null), getClass().getMethod("setComplexProperty", Map.class));		
 		TypeDescriptor desc = new TypeDescriptor(getClass(), property);
-		//assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyType());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapValueType().getElementType().getElementType().getType());
 	}
 	
 	public Map<String, List<List<Integer>>> getComplexProperty() {
@@ -248,7 +233,7 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		PropertyDescriptor property = new PropertyDescriptor("listProperty", genericBean.getClass().getMethod("getListProperty", null), genericBean.getClass().getMethod("setListProperty", List.class));		
 		TypeDescriptor desc = new TypeDescriptor(genericBean.getClass(), property);
 		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getType());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType().getType());
 	}
 
 	public interface GenericType<T> {
@@ -292,7 +277,7 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		PropertyDescriptor property = new PropertyDescriptor("listProperty", genericBean.getClass().getMethod("getListProperty", null), genericBean.getClass().getMethod("setListProperty", List.class));		
 		TypeDescriptor desc = new TypeDescriptor(genericBean.getClass(), property);
 		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getType());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType().getType());
 		assertNotNull(desc.getAnnotation(MethodAnnotation1.class));
 	}
 	
@@ -323,8 +308,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 	public void property() throws Exception {
 		PropertyDescriptor property = new PropertyDescriptor("property", getClass().getMethod("getProperty", null), getClass().getMethod("setProperty", Map.class));		
 		TypeDescriptor desc = new TypeDescriptor(getClass(), property);
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
-		assertEquals(Long.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyType().getElementType().getType());
+		assertEquals(Long.class, desc.getMapValueType().getElementType().getType());
 		assertNotNull(desc.getAnnotation(MethodAnnotation1.class));
 		assertNotNull(desc.getAnnotation(MethodAnnotation2.class));
 		assertNotNull(desc.getAnnotation(MethodAnnotation3.class));
@@ -379,8 +364,7 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = new TypeDescriptor(TypeDescriptorTests.class.getDeclaredField("listOfString"));
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isArray());
 		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType());
-		// TODO caught shorten these names but it is OK that they are fully qualified for now
+		assertEquals(String.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType().getType());
 		assertEquals("java.util.List<java.lang.String>", typeDescriptor.toString());
 	}
 
@@ -389,8 +373,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = new TypeDescriptor(TypeDescriptorTests.class.getDeclaredField("listOfListOfString"));
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isArray());
 		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getType());
-		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, typeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType().getType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType().getElementType().getType());
 		assertEquals("java.util.List<java.util.List<java.lang.String>>", typeDescriptor.toString());
 	}
 
@@ -399,16 +383,16 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = new TypeDescriptor(TypeDescriptorTests.class.getDeclaredField("listOfListOfUnknown"));
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isArray());
 		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getType());
-		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(Object.class, typeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
-		assertEquals("java.util.List<java.util.List<java.lang.Object>>", typeDescriptor.toString());
+		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType().getType());
+		assertNull(typeDescriptor.getElementType().getElementType());
+		assertEquals("java.util.List<java.util.List<?>>", typeDescriptor.toString());
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void fieldArray() throws Exception {
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = new TypeDescriptor(TypeDescriptorTests.class.getDeclaredField("intArray"));
 		assertTrue(typeDescriptor.isArray());
-		assertEquals(Integer.TYPE,typeDescriptor.getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.TYPE,typeDescriptor.getElementType().getType());
 		assertEquals("int[]",typeDescriptor.toString());
 	}
 
@@ -418,7 +402,7 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = new TypeDescriptor(TypeDescriptorTests.class.getDeclaredField("arrayOfListOfString"));
 		assertTrue(typeDescriptor.isArray());
 		assertEquals(List.class,typeDescriptor.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, typeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType().getElementType());
 		assertEquals("java.util.List[]",typeDescriptor.toString());
 	}
 
@@ -426,9 +410,9 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 	public void fieldComplexTypeDescriptor2() throws Exception {
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = new TypeDescriptor(TypeDescriptorTests.class.getDeclaredField("nestedMapField"));
 		assertTrue(typeDescriptor.isMap());
-		assertEquals(String.class,typeDescriptor.getMapKeyType());
-		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getMapValueType());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, typeDescriptor.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(String.class,typeDescriptor.getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(List.class, typeDescriptor.getMapValueType().getType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, typeDescriptor.getMapValueType().getElementType().getType());
 		assertEquals("java.util.Map<java.lang.String, java.util.List<java.lang.Integer>>", typeDescriptor.toString());
 	}
 
@@ -438,8 +422,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		// TODO: SPR-8394: typeIndex handling not currently supported by fields
 		TypeDescriptor desc = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("fieldMap"));
 		assertTrue(desc.isMap());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
-		assertEquals(Long.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyType().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Long.class, desc.getMapValueType().getElementType());
 	}
 	
 	public Map<List<Integer>, List<Long>> fieldMap;
@@ -488,7 +472,7 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertTrue(typeDescriptor.isArray());
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isMap());
-		assertEquals(Integer.TYPE, typeDescriptor.getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.TYPE, typeDescriptor.getElementType().getType());
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -497,117 +481,19 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertTrue(typeDescriptor.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isArray());
 		assertFalse(typeDescriptor.isMap());
-		assertEquals(Object.class, typeDescriptor.getElementType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectCollection() {
-		List<String> list = new ArrayList<String>();
-		list.add("1");
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(list);
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getElementType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectCollectionEmpty() {
-		List<String> list = new ArrayList<String>();
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(list);
-		assertNull(desc.getElementType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectCollectionSuperClassCommonType() throws SecurityException, NoSuchFieldException {
-		List<Number> list = new ArrayList<Number>();
-		list.add(1);
-		list.add(2L);
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(list);
-		assertEquals(Number.class, desc.getElementType());
+		assertNull(typeDescriptor.getElementType());
 	}
 
-	public List<Long> longs;
-	
 	@Test
-	public void forObjectCollectionNoObviousCommonType() {
-		List<Object> collection = new ArrayList<Object>();
-		List<String> list = new ArrayList<String>();
-		list.add("1");
-		collection.add(list);
-		Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<String, String>();
-		collection.add(map);
-		map.put("1", "2");
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(collection);
-		assertEquals(Cloneable.class, desc.getElementType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectCollectionNoCommonType() {
-		List<Object> collection = new ArrayList<Object>();
-		collection.add(new Object());
-		collection.add("1");
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(collection);		
-		assertEquals(Object.class, desc.getElementType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectCollectionNested() {
-		List<Object> collection = new ArrayList<Object>();
-		collection.add(Arrays.asList("1", "2"));
-		collection.add(Arrays.asList("3", "4"));
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(collection);
-		assertEquals(Arrays.asList("foo").getClass(), desc.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectMap() {
-		Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<String, String>();
-		map.put("1", "2");
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapValueType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectMapEmpty() {
-		Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<String, String>();
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
-		assertNull(desc.getMapKeyType());
-		assertNull(desc.getMapValueType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectMapCommonSuperClass() {
-		Map<Number, Number> map = new HashMap<Number, Number>();
-		map.put(1, 2);
-		map.put(2L, 3L);
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
-		assertEquals(Number.class, desc.getMapKeyType());
-		assertEquals(Number.class, desc.getMapValueType());
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	public void forObjectMapNoObviousCommonType() {
-		Map<Object, Object> map = new HashMap<Object, Object>();
-		map.put("1", "2");
-		map.put(2, 2);
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
-		assertEquals(Comparable.class, desc.getMapKeyType());
-		assertEquals(Comparable.class, desc.getMapValueType());
+	public void forObject() {
+		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject("3");
+		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getType());
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	public void forObjectMapNested() {
-		Map<Integer, List<String>> map = new HashMap<Integer, List<String>>();
-		map.put(1, Arrays.asList("1, 2"));
-		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapKeyType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getElementType());		
-	}
-			
-	@Test
-	public void nestedMethodParameterType() throws Exception {
-		TypeDescriptor t1 = TypeDescriptor.nested(new MethodParameter(getClass().getMethod("test1", List.class), 0), 1);
-		assertEquals(String.class, t1.getType());
+	public void forObjectNullTypeDescriptor() {
+		TypeDescriptor desc = TypeDescriptor.forObject(null);
+		assertNull(desc);
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -692,8 +578,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertEquals(0, desc.getAnnotations().length);
 		assertTrue(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getElementType().getType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class), desc.getElementType());
 		assertFalse(desc.isMap());
 	}
 
@@ -708,8 +594,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertEquals(0, desc.getAnnotations().length);
 		assertTrue(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());
-		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getElementType());
-		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class), desc.getElementTypeDescriptor().getElementTypeDescriptor());
+		assertEquals(List.class, desc.getElementType().getType());
+		assertEquals(TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class), desc.getElementType().getElementType());
 		assertFalse(desc.isMap());
 	}
 
@@ -725,8 +611,8 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertFalse(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());
 		assertTrue(desc.isMap());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getType());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapValueType().getType());
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -742,9 +628,9 @@ public class TypeDescriptorTests {
 		assertFalse(desc.isCollection());
 		assertFalse(desc.isArray());
 		assertTrue(desc.isMap());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getType());
-		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getMapKeyTypeDescriptor().getType());
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getMapValueTypeDescriptor().getType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(String.class, desc.getMapValueType().getMapKeyType().getType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, desc.getMapValueType().getMapValueType().getType());
 	}
 
 	@Test

org.springframework.core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/CollectionToCollectionConverterTests.java

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionFailedException;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConverterNotFoundException;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
 import org.springframework.core.io.ClassPathResource;
@@ -38,7 +39,12 @@ public class CollectionToCollectionConverterTests {
 		list.add("37");
 		TypeDescriptor sourceType = TypeDescriptor.forObject(list);
 		TypeDescriptor targetType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("scalarListTarget"));
-		assertFalse(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		try {
+			conversionService.convert(list, sourceType, targetType);
+		} catch (ConversionFailedException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof ConverterNotFoundException);
+		}
 		conversionService.addConverterFactory(new StringToNumberConverterFactory());
 		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
 		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")		
@@ -169,7 +175,7 @@ public class CollectionToCollectionConverterTests {
 		assertEquals(resources, conversionService.convert(resources, sourceType, new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("resources"))));
 	}
 
-	@Test(expected=ConverterNotFoundException.class)
+	@Test
 	public void allNullsNotConvertible() throws Exception {
 		List<Resource> resources = new ArrayList<Resource>();
 		resources.add(null);
@@ -180,7 +186,7 @@ public class CollectionToCollectionConverterTests {
 	
 	public List<String> allNullsNotConvertible;
 
-	@Test(expected=ConverterNotFoundException.class)
+	@Test(expected=ConversionFailedException.class)
 	public void nothingInCommon() throws Exception {
 		List<Object> resources = new ArrayList<Object>();
 		resources.add(new ClassPathResource("test"));

org.springframework.core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/GenericConversionServiceTests.java

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public class GenericConversionServiceTests {
 
 	@Test(expected=IllegalArgumentException.class)
 	public void convertNotNullSourceNullSourceTypeDescriptor() {
-		conversionService.convert("3", TypeDescriptor.NULL, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(int.class));
+		conversionService.convert("3", null, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(int.class));
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -124,14 +124,15 @@ public class GenericConversionServiceTests {
 		assertNull(conversionService.convert(null, Integer.class));
 	}
 
+	@Test(expected=IllegalArgumentException.class)
 	public void convertNullTargetClass() {
 		assertNull(conversionService.convert("3", (Class<?>) null));
-		assertNull(conversionService.convert("3", TypeDescriptor.valueOf(String.class), TypeDescriptor.NULL));
+		assertNull(conversionService.convert("3", TypeDescriptor.valueOf(String.class), null));
 	}
 
-	@Test
+	@Test(expected=IllegalArgumentException.class)
 	public void convertNullTypeDescriptor() {
-		assertNull(conversionService.convert("3", TypeDescriptor.valueOf(String.class), TypeDescriptor.NULL));
+		assertNull(conversionService.convert("3", TypeDescriptor.valueOf(String.class), null));
 	}
 
 	@Test(expected=IllegalArgumentException.class)
@@ -186,7 +187,12 @@ public class GenericConversionServiceTests {
 	@Test
 	public void genericConverterDelegatingBackToConversionServiceConverterNotFound() {
 		conversionService.addConverter(new ObjectToArrayConverter(conversionService));
-		assertFalse(conversionService.canConvert(String.class, Integer[].class));
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(String.class, Integer[].class));
+		try {
+			conversionService.convert("3,4,5", Integer[].class);
+		} catch (ConversionFailedException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof ConverterNotFoundException);
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Test

org.springframework.core/src/test/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/MapToMapConverterTests.java

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionFailedException;
+import org.springframework.core.convert.ConverterNotFoundException;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
 
 public class MapToMapConverterTests {
@@ -30,7 +32,12 @@ public class MapToMapConverterTests {
 		map.put("2", "37");
 		TypeDescriptor sourceType = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
 		TypeDescriptor targetType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("scalarMapTarget"));
-		assertFalse(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		try {
+			conversionService.convert(map, sourceType, targetType);
+		} catch (ConversionFailedException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof ConverterNotFoundException);
+		}
 		conversionService.addConverterFactory(new StringToNumberConverterFactory());
 		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
 		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")		
@@ -58,7 +65,19 @@ public class MapToMapConverterTests {
 		map.put("2", "37");
 		TypeDescriptor sourceType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("notGenericMapSource"));
 		TypeDescriptor targetType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("scalarMapTarget"));		
-		assertFalse(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		try {
+			conversionService.convert(map, sourceType, targetType);
+		} catch (ConversionFailedException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof ConverterNotFoundException);
+		}
+		conversionService.addConverterFactory(new StringToNumberConverterFactory());
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")		
+		Map<Integer, Integer> result = (Map<Integer, Integer>) conversionService.convert(map, sourceType, targetType);
+		assertFalse(map.equals(result));
+		assertEquals((Integer) 9, result.get(1));
+		assertEquals((Integer) 37, result.get(2));		
 	}
 	
 	public Map notGenericMapSource;
@@ -70,7 +89,12 @@ public class MapToMapConverterTests {
 		map.put("2", Arrays.asList("37", "23"));
 		TypeDescriptor sourceType = TypeDescriptor.forObject(map);
 		TypeDescriptor targetType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("collectionMapTarget"));
-		assertFalse(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		try {
+			conversionService.convert(map, sourceType, targetType);
+		} catch (ConversionFailedException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof ConverterNotFoundException);
+		}		
 		conversionService.addConverter(new CollectionToCollectionConverter(conversionService));
 		conversionService.addConverterFactory(new StringToNumberConverterFactory());
 		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
@@ -83,8 +107,6 @@ public class MapToMapConverterTests {
 
 	public Map<Integer, List<Integer>> collectionMapTarget;
 
-	public Map<String, List<String>> sourceCollectionMapTarget;
-
 	@Test
 	public void collectionMapSourceTarget() throws Exception {
 		Map<String, List<String>> map = new HashMap<String, List<String>>();
@@ -92,7 +114,12 @@ public class MapToMapConverterTests {
 		map.put("2", Arrays.asList("37", "23"));
 		TypeDescriptor sourceType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("sourceCollectionMapTarget"));
 		TypeDescriptor targetType = new TypeDescriptor(getClass().getField("collectionMapTarget"));
-		assertFalse(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
+		try {
+			conversionService.convert(map, sourceType, targetType);
+		} catch (ConversionFailedException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof ConverterNotFoundException);
+		}				
 		conversionService.addConverter(new CollectionToCollectionConverter(conversionService));
 		conversionService.addConverterFactory(new StringToNumberConverterFactory());
 		assertTrue(conversionService.canConvert(sourceType, targetType));
@@ -103,6 +130,8 @@ public class MapToMapConverterTests {
 		assertEquals(Arrays.asList(37, 23), result.get(2));
 	}
 
+	public Map<String, List<String>> sourceCollectionMapTarget;
+
 	@Test
 	public void collectionMapNotGenericTarget() throws Exception {
 		Map<String, List<String>> map = new HashMap<String, List<String>>();

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/TypedValue.java

@@ -16,9 +16,6 @@
 
 package org.springframework.expression;
 
-import java.util.Collection;
-import java.util.Map;
-
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
 
 /**
@@ -56,7 +53,7 @@ public class TypedValue {
 	 */
 	public TypedValue(Object value, TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor) {
 		this.value = value;
-		this.typeDescriptor = initTypeDescriptor(value, typeDescriptor);
+		this.typeDescriptor = typeDescriptor;
 	}
 	
 	public Object getValue() {
@@ -77,20 +74,4 @@ public class TypedValue {
 		return str.toString();
 	}
 	
-	// interal helpers
-
-	private static TypeDescriptor initTypeDescriptor(Object value, TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor) {
-		if (value == null) {
-			return typeDescriptor;
-		}
-		if (typeDescriptor.isCollection() && Object.class.equals(typeDescriptor.getElementType())) {
-			return typeDescriptor.resolveCollectionElementType((Collection<?>) value);
-		} else if (typeDescriptor.isMap() && Object.class.equals(typeDescriptor.getMapKeyType())
-				&& Object.class.equals(typeDescriptor.getMapValueType())){
-			return typeDescriptor.resolveMapKeyValueTypes((Map<?, ?>) value);
-		} else {
-			return typeDescriptor;
-		}		
-	}
-	
 }

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/ast/FormatHelper.java

@@ -41,7 +41,12 @@ public class FormatHelper {
 			if (i > 0) {
 				sb.append(",");
 			}
-			sb.append(formatClassNameForMessage(argumentTypes.get(i).getType()));
+			TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = argumentTypes.get(i);
+			if (typeDescriptor != null) {
+				sb.append(formatClassNameForMessage(typeDescriptor.getClass()));
+			} else {
+				sb.append(formatClassNameForMessage(null));				
+			}
 		}
 		sb.append(")");
 		return sb.toString();

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/ast/FunctionReference.java

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ public class FunctionReference extends SpelNodeImpl {
 		try {
 			ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(method);
 			Object result = method.invoke(method.getClass(), functionArgs);
-			return new TypedValue(result, new TypeDescriptor(new MethodParameter(method,-1)));
+			return new TypedValue(result, new TypeDescriptor(new MethodParameter(method,-1)).narrowType(result));
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			throw new SpelEvaluationException(getStartPosition(), ex, SpelMessage.EXCEPTION_DURING_FUNCTION_CALL,

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/ast/Indexer.java

@@ -90,9 +90,12 @@ public class Indexer extends SpelNodeImpl {
 
 		// Indexing into a Map
 		if (targetObject instanceof Map) {
-			Object possiblyConvertedKey = state.convertValue(index, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor());
-			Object o = ((Map<?, ?>) targetObject).get(possiblyConvertedKey);
-			return new TypedValue(o, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
+			Object key = index;
+			if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapKeyType() != null) {
+				key = state.convertValue(key, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapKeyType());
+			}
+			Object value = ((Map<?, ?>) targetObject).get(key);
+			return new TypedValue(value, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.mapValueType(value));
 		}
 		
 		if (targetObject == null) {
@@ -100,22 +103,22 @@ public class Indexer extends SpelNodeImpl {
 		}
 		
 		// if the object is something that looks indexable by an integer, attempt to treat the index value as a number
-		if ((targetObject instanceof Collection ) || targetObject.getClass().isArray() || targetObject instanceof String) {
-			int idx = (Integer)state.convertValue(index, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class));		
+		if (targetObject instanceof Collection || targetObject.getClass().isArray() || targetObject instanceof String) {
+			int idx = (Integer) state.convertValue(index, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class));		
 			if (targetObject.getClass().isArray()) {
 				Object arrayElement = accessArrayElement(targetObject, idx);
-				return new TypedValue(arrayElement, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+				return new TypedValue(arrayElement, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.elementType(arrayElement));
 			} else if (targetObject instanceof Collection) {
 				Collection c = (Collection) targetObject;
 				if (idx >= c.size()) {
-					if (!growCollection(state, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementType(), idx, c)) {
+					if (!growCollection(state, targetObjectTypeDescriptor, idx, c)) {
 						throw new SpelEvaluationException(getStartPosition(),SpelMessage.COLLECTION_INDEX_OUT_OF_BOUNDS, c.size(), idx);
 					}
 				}
 				int pos = 0;
 				for (Object o : c) {
 					if (pos == idx) {
-						return new TypedValue(o, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor());
+						return new TypedValue(o, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.elementType(o));
 					}
 					pos++;
 				}
@@ -181,33 +184,38 @@ public class Indexer extends SpelNodeImpl {
 			throw new SpelEvaluationException(SpelMessage.CANNOT_INDEX_INTO_NULL_VALUE);
 		}
 		// Indexing into a Map
-		if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.isMap()) {
-			Map map = (Map)targetObject;
-			Object possiblyConvertedKey = index;
-			Object possiblyConvertedValue = newValue;
-			possiblyConvertedKey = state.convertValue(index.getValue(), targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapKeyTypeDescriptor());
-			possiblyConvertedValue = state.convertValue(newValue, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapValueTypeDescriptor());
-			map.put(possiblyConvertedKey,possiblyConvertedValue);
+		if (targetObject instanceof Map) {
+			Map map = (Map) targetObject;
+			Object key = index.getValue();
+			if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapKeyType() != null) {
+				key = state.convertValue(index, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapKeyType());
+			}
+			if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapValueType() != null) {
+				newValue = state.convertValue(newValue, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getMapValueType());				
+			}
+			map.put(key, newValue);
 			return;
 		}
 
 		if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.isArray()) {
 			int idx = (Integer)state.convertValue(index, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class));
-			setArrayElement(state, contextObject.getValue(), idx, newValue, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementType());
+			setArrayElement(state, contextObject.getValue(), idx, newValue, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementType().getType());
 			return;
 		}
-		else if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.isCollection()) {
-			int idx = (Integer)state.convertValue(index, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class));
+		else if (targetObject instanceof Collection) {
+			int idx = (Integer) state.convertValue(index, TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.class));
 			Collection c = (Collection) targetObject;
 			if (idx >= c.size()) {
-				if (!growCollection(state, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementType(), idx, c)) {
+				if (!growCollection(state, targetObjectTypeDescriptor, idx, c)) {
 					throw new SpelEvaluationException(getStartPosition(),SpelMessage.COLLECTION_INDEX_OUT_OF_BOUNDS, c.size(), idx);
 				}
 			}
 			if (targetObject instanceof List) {
-				List list = (List)targetObject;
-				Object possiblyConvertedValue = state.convertValue(newValue, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementTypeDescriptor());
-				list.set(idx,possiblyConvertedValue);
+				List list = (List) targetObject;
+				if (targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementType() != null) {
+					newValue = state.convertValue(newValue, targetObjectTypeDescriptor.getElementType());
+				}
+				list.set(idx, newValue);
 				return;
 			}
 			else {
@@ -217,7 +225,7 @@ public class Indexer extends SpelNodeImpl {
 		
 		// Try and treat the index value as a property of the context object		
 		// TODO could call the conversion service to convert the value to a String		
-		if (index.getTypeDescriptor().getType()==String.class) {
+		if (index.getTypeDescriptor().getType() == String.class) {
 			Class<?> contextObjectClass = getObjectClass(contextObject.getValue());
 			String name = (String)index.getValue();
 			EvaluationContext eContext = state.getEvaluationContext();
@@ -260,20 +268,21 @@ public class Indexer extends SpelNodeImpl {
 	 * @return true if collection growing succeeded, otherwise false
 	 */
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	private boolean growCollection(ExpressionState state, Class<?> elementType, int index,
+	private boolean growCollection(ExpressionState state, TypeDescriptor targetType, int index,
 			Collection collection) {
 		if (state.getConfiguration().isAutoGrowCollections()) {
+			if (targetType.getElementType() == null) {
+				throw new SpelEvaluationException(getStartPosition(), SpelMessage.UNABLE_TO_GROW_COLLECTION_UNKNOWN_ELEMENT_TYPE);				
+			}
+			TypeDescriptor elementType = targetType.getElementType();
 			Object newCollectionElement = null;
 			try {
-				int newElements = index-collection.size();
-				if (elementType == null || elementType == Object.class) {
-					throw new SpelEvaluationException(getStartPosition(), SpelMessage.UNABLE_TO_GROW_COLLECTION_UNKNOWN_ELEMENT_TYPE);	
-				}
+				int newElements = index - collection.size();
 				while (newElements>0) {
-					collection.add(elementType.newInstance());
+					collection.add(elementType.getType().newInstance());
 					newElements--;
 				}
-				newCollectionElement = elementType.newInstance();
+				newCollectionElement = elementType.getType().newInstance();
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex) {
 				throw new SpelEvaluationException(getStartPosition(), ex, SpelMessage.UNABLE_TO_GROW_COLLECTION);

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/ast/Selection.java

@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public class Selection extends SpelNodeImpl {
 				return new TypedValue(result);
 			}
 			else {
-				Class<?> elementType = ClassUtils.resolvePrimitiveIfNecessary(op.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+				Class<?> elementType = ClassUtils.resolvePrimitiveIfNecessary(op.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType().getType());
 				Object resultArray = Array.newInstance(elementType, result.size());
 				System.arraycopy(result.toArray(), 0, resultArray, 0, result.size());
 				return new TypedValue(resultArray);

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/standard/SpelExpression.java

@@ -103,30 +103,29 @@ public class SpelExpression implements Expression {
 		return ExpressionUtils.convertTypedValue(context, typedResultValue, expectedResultType);
 	}
 
-
 	public Class getValueType() throws EvaluationException {
-		return ast.getValueInternal(new ExpressionState(getEvaluationContext(), configuration)).getTypeDescriptor().getType();
+		return getValueType(getEvaluationContext());
+	}
+
+	public Class getValueType(Object rootObject) throws EvaluationException {
+		return getValueType(getEvaluationContext(), rootObject);
 	}
 
 	public Class getValueType(EvaluationContext context) throws EvaluationException {
 		Assert.notNull(context, "The EvaluationContext is required");
 		ExpressionState eState = new ExpressionState(context, configuration);
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = ast.getValueInternal(eState).getTypeDescriptor();
-		return typeDescriptor.getType();
+		return typeDescriptor != null ? typeDescriptor.getType() : null;
 	}
 
 	public Class getValueType(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject) throws EvaluationException {
 		ExpressionState eState = new ExpressionState(context, toTypedValue(rootObject), configuration);
 		TypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = ast.getValueInternal(eState).getTypeDescriptor();
-		return typeDescriptor.getType();
-	}
-
-	public Class getValueType(Object rootObject) throws EvaluationException {
-		return ast.getValueInternal(new ExpressionState(getEvaluationContext(), configuration)).getTypeDescriptor().getType();
+		return typeDescriptor != null ? typeDescriptor.getType() : null;
 	}
 
 	public TypeDescriptor getValueTypeDescriptor() throws EvaluationException {
-		return ast.getValueInternal(new ExpressionState(getEvaluationContext(), configuration)).getTypeDescriptor();
+		return getValueTypeDescriptor(getEvaluationContext());
 	}
 	
 	public TypeDescriptor getValueTypeDescriptor(Object rootObject) throws EvaluationException {
@@ -177,7 +176,6 @@ public class SpelExpression implements Expression {
 		Assert.notNull(context, "The EvaluationContext is required");		
 		ast.setValue(new ExpressionState(context, toTypedValue(rootObject), configuration), value);
 	}
-
 	
 	// impl only
 

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/support/ReflectionHelper.java

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import org.springframework.expression.spel.SpelMessage;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.ClassUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.MethodInvoker;
+import org.springframework.util.ObjectUtils;
 
 /**
  * Utility methods used by the reflection resolver code to discover the appropriate
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ public class ReflectionHelper {
 			TypeDescriptor expectedArg = expectedArgTypes.get(i);
 			if (!expectedArg.equals(suppliedArg)) {
 				// The user may supply null - and that will be ok unless a primitive is expected
-				if (suppliedArg == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
+				if (suppliedArg == null) {
 					if (expectedArg.isPrimitive()) {
 						match = null;
 					}
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ public class ReflectionHelper {
 		for (int i = 0,max=paramTypes.size(); i < max; i++) {
 			TypeDescriptor argType = argTypes.get(i);
 			TypeDescriptor paramType = paramTypes.get(i);
-			if (argType==TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
+			if (argType == null) {
 				if (paramType.isPrimitive()) {
 					return Integer.MAX_VALUE;
 				}
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ public class ReflectionHelper {
 			if (!ClassUtils.isAssignable(paramType.getClass(), argType.getClass())) {
 				return Integer.MAX_VALUE;
 			}
-			if (argType != TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
+			if (argType != null) {
 				Class paramTypeClazz = paramType.getType();
 				if (paramTypeClazz.isPrimitive()) {
 					paramTypeClazz = Object.class;
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ public class ReflectionHelper {
 		for (int i = 0; i < argCountUpToVarargs && match != null; i++) {
 			TypeDescriptor suppliedArg = suppliedArgTypes.get(i);
 			TypeDescriptor expectedArg = expectedArgTypes.get(i);
-			if (suppliedArg == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
+			if (suppliedArg == null) {
 				if (expectedArg.isPrimitive()) {
 					match = null;
 				}
@@ -213,13 +214,13 @@ public class ReflectionHelper {
 		else {
 			// Now... we have the final argument in the method we are checking as a match and we have 0 or more other
 			// arguments left to pass to it.
-			Class varargsParameterType = expectedArgTypes.get(expectedArgTypes.size() - 1).getElementType();
+			Class varargsParameterType = expectedArgTypes.get(expectedArgTypes.size() - 1).getElementType().getType();
 
 			// All remaining parameters must be of this type or convertable to this type
 			for (int i = expectedArgTypes.size() - 1; i < suppliedArgTypes.size(); i++) {
 				TypeDescriptor suppliedArg = suppliedArgTypes.get(i);
-				if (varargsParameterType != suppliedArg.getType()) {
-					if (suppliedArg == TypeDescriptor.NULL) {
+				if (!ObjectUtils.nullSafeEquals(varargsParameterType, suppliedArg)) {
+					if (suppliedArg == null) {
 						if (varargsParameterType.isPrimitive()) {
 							match = null;
 						}

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/support/ReflectiveMethodExecutor.java

@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ class ReflectiveMethodExecutor implements MethodExecutor {
 				arguments = ReflectionHelper.setupArgumentsForVarargsInvocation(this.method.getParameterTypes(), arguments);
 			}
 			ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(this.method);
-			return new TypedValue(this.method.invoke(target, arguments), new TypeDescriptor(new MethodParameter(this.method, -1)));
+			Object value = this.method.invoke(target, arguments);
+			return new TypedValue(value, new TypeDescriptor(new MethodParameter(this.method, -1)).narrowType(value));
 		}
 		catch (Exception ex) {
 			throw new AccessException("Problem invoking method: " + this.method, ex);

org.springframework.expression/src/main/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/support/ReflectivePropertyAccessor.java

@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ public class ReflectivePropertyAccessor implements PropertyAccessor {
 			if (target instanceof Class) {
 				throw new AccessException("Cannot access length on array class itself");
 			}
-			return new TypedValue(Array.getLength(target),TypeDescriptor.valueOf(Integer.TYPE));
+			return new TypedValue(Array.getLength(target));
 		}
 
 		CacheKey cacheKey = new CacheKey(type, name);
@@ -508,7 +508,8 @@ public class ReflectivePropertyAccessor implements PropertyAccessor {
 					if (needsToBeMadeAccessible) {
 						ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible((Method) member);
 					}
-					return new TypedValue(((Method) member).invoke(target), typeDescriptor);
+					Object value = ((Method) member).invoke(target);
+					return new TypedValue(value, typeDescriptor.narrowType(value));
 				}
 				catch (Exception ex) {
 					throw new AccessException("Unable to access property '" + name + "' through getter", ex);
@@ -519,7 +520,8 @@ public class ReflectivePropertyAccessor implements PropertyAccessor {
 					if (needsToBeMadeAccessible) {
 						ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible((Field)member);
 					}
-					return new TypedValue(((Field)member).get(target),typeDescriptor);
+					Object value = ((Field)member).get(target);
+					return new TypedValue(value, typeDescriptor.narrowType(value));
 				}
 				catch (Exception ex) {
 					throw new AccessException("Unable to access field: " + name, ex);

org.springframework.expression/src/test/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/ExpressionTestsUsingCoreConversionService.java

@@ -16,15 +16,17 @@
 
 package org.springframework.expression.spel;
 
+import static junit.framework.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static junit.framework.Assert.assertNotNull;
+import static junit.framework.Assert.assertTrue;
+
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 
-import static junit.framework.Assert.*;
 import org.junit.Before;
 import org.junit.Test;
-
 import org.springframework.core.MethodParameter;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.ConversionService;
 import org.springframework.core.convert.TypeDescriptor;
@@ -72,13 +74,13 @@ public class ExpressionTestsUsingCoreConversionService extends ExpressionTestCas
 		TypeConvertorUsingConversionService tcs = new TypeConvertorUsingConversionService();
 		
 		// ArrayList containing List<Integer> to List<String>
-		Class<?> clazz = typeDescriptorForListOfString.getElementType();
+		Class<?> clazz = typeDescriptorForListOfString.getElementType().getType();
 		assertEquals(String.class,clazz);
 		List l = (List) tcs.convertValue(listOfInteger, TypeDescriptor.forObject(listOfInteger), typeDescriptorForListOfString);
 		assertNotNull(l);
 
 		// ArrayList containing List<String> to List<Integer>
-		clazz = typeDescriptorForListOfInteger.getElementType();
+		clazz = typeDescriptorForListOfInteger.getElementType().getType();
 		assertEquals(Integer.class,clazz);
 		
 		l = (List) tcs.convertValue(listOfString, TypeDescriptor.forObject(listOfString), typeDescriptorForListOfString);

org.springframework.expression/src/test/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/IndexingTests.java

 package org.springframework.expression.spel;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 
 import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
 import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
 import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
 import java.lang.annotation.Target;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 
-import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Test;
+import org.springframework.expression.AccessException;
+import org.springframework.expression.EvaluationContext;
+import org.springframework.expression.EvaluationException;
 import org.springframework.expression.Expression;
+import org.springframework.expression.PropertyAccessor;
+import org.springframework.expression.TypedValue;
 import org.springframework.expression.spel.standard.SpelExpressionParser;
+import org.springframework.expression.spel.support.StandardEvaluationContext;
 
 public class IndexingTests {
 
 	@Test
-	@Ignore
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingMap() {
+		Map<String, String> property = new HashMap<String, String>();
+		property.put("foo", "bar");
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.HashMap<?, ?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this, Map.class));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property['foo']");
+		assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	@FieldAnnotation
+	public Object property;
+
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingMapObject() {
+		Map<String, Map<String, String>> property = new HashMap<String, Map<String, String>>();
+		Map<String, String> map =  new HashMap<String, String>();
+		map.put("foo", "bar");
+		property.put("property", map);
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		StandardEvaluationContext context = new StandardEvaluationContext();
+		context.addPropertyAccessor(new MapAccessor());
+		context.setRootObject(property);
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("java.util.HashMap<?, ?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(context).toString());
+		assertEquals(map, expression.getValue(context));
+		assertEquals(map, expression.getValue(context, Map.class));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property['foo']");
+		assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(context));
+	}
+	
+	public static class MapAccessor implements PropertyAccessor {
+
+		public boolean canRead(EvaluationContext context, Object target, String name) throws AccessException {
+			return (((Map) target).containsKey(name));
+		}
+
+		public TypedValue read(EvaluationContext context, Object target, String name) throws AccessException {
+			return new TypedValue(((Map) target).get(name));
+		}
+
+		public boolean canWrite(EvaluationContext context, Object target, String name) throws AccessException {
+			return true;
+		}
+
+		@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+		public void write(EvaluationContext context, Object target, String name, Object newValue)
+				throws AccessException {
+			((Map) target).put(name, newValue);
+		}
+
+		public Class<?>[] getSpecificTargetClasses() {
+			return new Class[] { Map.class };
+		}
+		
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void setGenericPropertyContainingMap() {
+		Map<String, String> property = new HashMap<String, String>();
+		property.put("foo", "bar");
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.HashMap<?, ?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property['foo']");
+		assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+		expression.setValue(this, "baz");		
+		assertEquals("baz", expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void setPropertyContainingMap() {
+		Map<Integer, Integer> property = new HashMap<Integer, Integer>();
+		property.put(9, 3);
+		this.parameterizedMap = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedMap");
+		assertEquals("java.util.HashMap<java.lang.Integer, java.lang.Integer>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedMap['9']");
+		assertEquals(3, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression.setValue(this, "37");		
+		assertEquals(37, expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+
+	public Map<Integer, Integer> parameterizedMap;
+
+	@Test
+	public void setPropertyContainingMapAutoGrow() {
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser(new SpelParserConfiguration(true, false));
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedMap");
+		assertEquals("java.util.Map<java.lang.Integer, java.lang.Integer>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedMap['9']");
+		assertEquals(null, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression.setValue(this, "37");		
+		assertEquals(37, expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingList() {
+		List<String> property = new ArrayList<String>();
+		property.add("bar");
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property[0]");
+		assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void setGenericPropertyContainingList() {
+		List<Integer> property = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		property.add(3);
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property[0]");
+		assertEquals(3, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression.setValue(this, "4");
+		assertEquals("4", expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void setGenericPropertyContainingListAutogrow() {
+		List<Integer> property = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser(new SpelParserConfiguration(true, true));
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property[0]");
+		try {
+			expression.setValue(this, "4");
+		} catch (EvaluationException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("EL1053E"));			
+		}
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoPropertyContainingList() {
+		List<Integer> property = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		property.add(3);
+		this.parameterizedList = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedList");
+		assertEquals("java.util.ArrayList<java.lang.Integer>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedList[0]");
+		assertEquals(3, expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	public List<Integer> parameterizedList;
+
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoPropertyContainingListOfList() {
+		List<List<Integer>> property = new ArrayList<List<Integer>>();
+		property.add(Arrays.asList(3));
+		this.parameterizedListOfList = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedListOfList[0]");
+		assertEquals("java.util.Arrays$ArrayList<java.lang.Integer>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property.get(0), expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedListOfList[0][0]");
+		assertEquals(3, expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	public List<List<Integer>> parameterizedListOfList;
+	
+	@Test
+	public void setPropertyContainingList() {
+		List<Integer> property = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		property.add(3);
+		this.parameterizedList = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedList");
+		assertEquals("java.util.ArrayList<java.lang.Integer>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("parameterizedList[0]");
+		assertEquals(3, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression.setValue(this, "4");
+		assertEquals(4, expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingNullList() {
+		SpelParserConfiguration configuration = new SpelParserConfiguration(true, true);
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser(configuration);
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.lang.Object", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property[0]");
+		try {
+			assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+		} catch (EvaluationException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("EL1027E"));			
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingGrowingList() {
+		List<String> property = new ArrayList<String>();
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelParserConfiguration configuration = new SpelParserConfiguration(true, true);
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser(configuration);
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property[0]");
+		try {
+			assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+		} catch (EvaluationException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("EL1053E"));
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingGrowingList2() {
+		List<String> property2 = new ArrayList<String>();
+		this.property2 = property2;
+		SpelParserConfiguration configuration = new SpelParserConfiguration(true, true);
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser(configuration);
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property2");
+		assertEquals("java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property2, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property2[0]");
+		try {
+			assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+		} catch (EvaluationException e) {
+			assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("EL1053E"));
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public List property2;
+
+	@Test
+	public void indexIntoGenericPropertyContainingArray() {
+		String[] property = new String[] { "bar" };
+		this.property = property;
+		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
+		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("property");
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.lang.String[]", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals(property, expression.getValue(this));
+		expression = parser.parseExpression("property[0]");
+		assertEquals("bar", expression.getValue(this));
+	}
+	
+	@Test
 	public void emptyList() {
 		listOfScalarNotGeneric = new ArrayList();
 		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
 		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("listOfScalarNotGeneric");
-		assertEquals("java.util.List<java.lang.Object>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals("java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
 		assertEquals("", expression.getValue(this, String.class));
 	}
 
 	@Test
-	@Ignore
 	public void resolveCollectionElementType() {
 		listNotGeneric = new ArrayList();
 		listNotGeneric.add(5);
 		listNotGeneric.add(6);
 		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
 		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("listNotGeneric");
-		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.List<@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.lang.Integer>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.ArrayList<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
 		assertEquals("5,6", expression.getValue(this, String.class));
 	}
 
@@ -44,7 +306,7 @@ public class IndexingTests {
 	public void resolveCollectionElementTypeNull() {
 		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
 		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("listNotGeneric");
-		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.List<@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.lang.Object>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.List<?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
 	}
 
 	@FieldAnnotation
@@ -63,7 +325,7 @@ public class IndexingTests {
 		mapNotGeneric.put("bonusAmount", 7.17);
 		SpelExpressionParser parser = new SpelExpressionParser();
 		Expression expression = parser.parseExpression("mapNotGeneric");
-		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.Map<java.lang.String, java.lang.Double>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
+		assertEquals("@org.springframework.expression.spel.IndexingTests$FieldAnnotation java.util.HashMap<?, ?>", expression.getValueTypeDescriptor(this).toString());
 	}
 	
 	@FieldAnnotation

org.springframework.expression/src/test/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/SelectionAndProjectionTests.java

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 
 package org.springframework.expression.spel;
 
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.LinkedHashSet;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -23,9 +26,7 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.TreeMap;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 import org.junit.Test;
-
 import org.springframework.expression.EvaluationContext;
 import org.springframework.expression.Expression;
 import org.springframework.expression.ExpressionParser;
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ public class SelectionAndProjectionTests {
 		Object value = expression.getValue(context);
 		assertTrue(value.getClass().isArray());
 		TypedValue typedValue = new TypedValue(value);
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, typedValue.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, typedValue.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType().getType());
 		Integer[] array = (Integer[]) value;
 		assertEquals(5, array.length);
 		assertEquals(new Integer(0), array[0]);
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ public class SelectionAndProjectionTests {
 		Object value = expression.getValue(context);
 		assertTrue(value.getClass().isArray());
 		TypedValue typedValue = new TypedValue(value);
-		assertEquals(Integer.class, typedValue.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Integer.class, typedValue.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType().getType());
 		Integer[] array = (Integer[]) value;
 		assertEquals(5, array.length);
 		assertEquals(new Integer(0), array[0]);
@@ -249,7 +250,7 @@ public class SelectionAndProjectionTests {
 		Object value = expression.getValue(context);
 		assertTrue(value.getClass().isArray());
 		TypedValue typedValue = new TypedValue(value);
-		assertEquals(Number.class, typedValue.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType());
+		assertEquals(Number.class, typedValue.getTypeDescriptor().getElementType().getType());
 		Number[] array = (Number[]) value;
 		assertEquals(3, array.length);
 		assertEquals(new Integer(5), array[0]);

org.springframework.expression/src/test/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/SpelDocumentationTests.java

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import java.util.Map;
 
 import junit.framework.Assert;
 
-import org.junit.Ignore;
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.springframework.expression.EvaluationContext;
 import org.springframework.expression.Expression;
@@ -206,7 +205,6 @@ public class SpelDocumentationTests extends ExpressionTestCase {
 	
 	
 	@Test
-	@Ignore
 	public void testDictionaryAccess() throws Exception {
 		StandardEvaluationContext societyContext = new StandardEvaluationContext();
 		societyContext.setRootObject(new IEEE());

org.springframework.expression/src/test/java/org/springframework/expression/spel/SpringEL300Tests.java

@@ -698,7 +698,6 @@ public class SpringEL300Tests extends ExpressionTestCase {
 	}
 	
 	@Test
-	@Ignore
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	public void testMapOfMap_SPR7244() throws Exception {
         Map<String,Object> map = new LinkedHashMap();
@@ -727,10 +726,11 @@ public class SpringEL300Tests extends ExpressionTestCase {
         String el1 = "ls.![#this.equals('abc')]";
         SpelExpression exp = parser.parseRaw(el1);
         List value = (List)exp.getValue(ctx);
+        System.out.println(value);
         // value is list containing [true,false]
         Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class,value.get(0).getClass());
         TypeDescriptor evaluated = exp.getValueTypeDescriptor(ctx);
-        Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class,evaluated.getElementType());
+        Assert.assertEquals(null, evaluated.getElementType());
 	}
 	
 	@Test
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ public class SpringEL300Tests extends ExpressionTestCase {
         // value is array containing [true,false]
         Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class,value[0].getClass());
         TypeDescriptor evaluated = exp.getValueTypeDescriptor(ctx);
-        Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class,evaluated.getElementType());
+        Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class, evaluated.getElementType().getType());
 	}
 	
 	@Test
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ public class SpringEL300Tests extends ExpressionTestCase {
         // value is list containing [true,false]
         Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class,value.get(0).getClass());
         TypeDescriptor evaluated = exp.getValueTypeDescriptor(ctx);
-        Assert.assertEquals(Boolean.class,evaluated.getElementType());
+        Assert.assertEquals(null, evaluated.getElementType());
 	}
 	
 	static class C {