Why does groovy .class return a different value than .getClass()

Question

According to http://groovy.codehaus.org/Things+you+can+do+but+better+leave+undone

1. Accessing an object\'s type like a property

Answer 1

A non-map example is the difference between the class of a type, and the class of an instance. The .class and .getClass() of an instance is its type, with some exceptions, e.g. maps. The .class of a type, is the type. The .getClass() of a type is java.lang.Class

For example:

def a = Integer.getClass()
def b = Integer.class
def c = 1.getClass()
def d = 1.class    

println a
println b
println c
println d

will give the output:

class java.lang.Class
class java.lang.Integer
class java.lang.Integer
class java.lang.Integer