How to write it in Java

[agajantorayev]

Here I have simple code in C++:

include <iostream>
using namespace std;

//method that just changes numbers;
int change(int &initialNumber, int finalNumber){
initialNumber=finalNumber;
}

int main()
{
int anyNumber=5;
change(5, 10);
//now anyNumber refers to 10 not to 5;
cout<<anyNumber;//output will be 10
}

}

The problem is How Can I write this in Java:

public class Test{
private static int change(int initialNumber, int finalNumber){
return initialNumber=finalNumber;
}
public static void main(String [] args){
int anyNumber=5;
change(5, 10);
//anyNumber till refers to 5; How to make it refer to the new value
System.out.println(anyNumber);//output is 5
} 
}

[Zack]

You cannot do this in Java. Objects are passed by reference, primitives are not. An int is a primitive, therefore the values of 5 and 10 are passed to the function, not the object anyNumber and value 10.

Further reading: Parameter passing in Java - by reference or by value?

[JosAH]

Java uses the call by value parameters passing mechanism; always. What you did in your C++ program can't be done in Java. b.t.w. 5 can not be a reference and any decent C++ compiler will protest against your use.

kind regards,

Jos

[JosAH]

Objects are passed by reference, primitives are not.

Nonsense, objects are also passed by value and Java just uses pointers (references) to objects so those references are passed by value.

kind regards,

Jos

[Zack]

Nonsense, objects are also passed by value and Java just uses pointers (references) to objects so those references are passed by value.

kind regards,

Jos

Yes, the references are passed by value, but that's all that matters. The point is, you can treat it is a pointer, more or less. While you cannot set its value in the old function, calls and data setting methods can be made on it.

Example:

	public static void test(someIntClass x, someIntClass y, int z) {
		x = new someIntClass(5);
		y.m_Int = 5;
		z = 5;
	}
	public static void test2() {
		someIntClass a = new someIntClass(4);
		someIntClass b = new someIntClass(4);
		int c = 4;
		test(a,b,c);
		System.out.printf("%d %d %d\n",a.m_Int,b.m_Int,c); // Prints 4 5 4
	}
	private static class someIntClass {
		public int m_Int = 0;
		someIntClass(int x) { m_Int = x; }
	}

Apologies for the messy code. Wrote it in 30 seconds... just call test2() first.

[agajantorayev]

About C++ code, there is no problem when I compile it with BloodShed Dev-C++; And about Java:
If there is situation where I have anyNumber=5;
and I have methods:
change(), anyMethod(), and etc... I want to pass anyNumber to these methods and finally want to return new anyNumber value, Whan I need to do? Or I have to initialize new variable each time after passing it to the method:
anyNumber=5;
int newAnyNumber=change(anyNumber);
int newNewAnyNumber=anyMethdo(newAnyNumber);????

[agajantorayev]

About C++ code, there is no problem when I compile it with BloodShed Dev-C++; And about Java:
If there is situation where I have anyNumber=5;
and I have methods:
change(), anyMethod(), and etc... I want to pass anyNumber to these methods and finally want to return new anyNumber value, What I need to do? Or I have to initialize new variable each time after passing it to the method??:
anyNumber=5;
int newAnyNumber=change(anyNumber);
.............//any code......
int newNewAnyNumber=anyMethod(newAnyNumber);????

[Zack]

I want to pass anyNumber to these methods and finally want to return new anyNumber value, Whan I need to do? Or I have to initialize new variable each time after passing it to the method:
anyNumber=5;
int newAnyNumber=change(anyNumber);
int newNewAnyNumber=anyMethdo(newAnyNumber);????

public int F(int x) { return x + 1; }
public void Test() {
    int anyNumber = 5; // anyNumber == 5
    anyNumber = F(anyNumber); // anyNumber == 6
    anyNumber = F(anyNumber); // etc...
    anyNumber = F(anyNumber);
    anyNumber = F(anyNumber);
    anyNumber = F(anyNumber); // anyNumber == 10
}

All you have to do is assign it to the return value, just as you would in C++.

PS: There is an edit button, no need to repost your post to add a line to it. ;)

[agajantorayev]

Thanks a Lot!! I have just started Learnig Java programming language!! Thanks Guys for your Help!