# Description of Changes
Please provide a summary of the changes, including:
This PR refactors multiple instances of type casting throughout the
codebase by replacing them with Java's pattern matching for
`instanceof`. This approach eliminates redundant type casting, improves
code readability, and reduces the chances of `ClassCastException`. The
changes primarily affect authentication handling, PDF processing, and
certificate validation.
### Key Changes:
- Replaced traditional `instanceof` checks followed by explicit casting
with pattern matching.
- Improved readability and maintainability of type-related operations.
- Applied changes across security modules, PDF utilities, and image
processing functions.
This refactor does not introduce new functionality but enhances the
robustness and clarity of the existing code.
pending until #2818 is published
---
## Checklist
### General
- [ ] I have read the [Contribution
Guidelines](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)
- [ ] I have read the [Stirling-PDF Developer
Guide](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/DeveloperGuide.md)
(if applicable)
- [ ] I have read the [How to add new languages to
Stirling-PDF](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/HowToAddNewLanguage.md)
(if applicable)
- [ ] I have performed a self-review of my own code
- [ ] My changes generate no new warnings
### Documentation
- [ ] I have updated relevant docs on [Stirling-PDF's doc
repo](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-Tools.github.io/blob/main/docs/)
(if functionality has heavily changed)
- [ ] I have read the section [Add New Translation
Tags](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/HowToAddNewLanguage.md#add-new-translation-tags)
(for new translation tags only)
### UI Changes (if applicable)
- [ ] Screenshots or videos demonstrating the UI changes are attached
(e.g., as comments or direct attachments in the PR)
### Testing (if applicable)
- [ ] I have tested my changes locally. Refer to the [Testing
Guide](https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/DeveloperGuide.md#6-testing)
for more details.
