Collections

first of all I would like to excuse me for my utter noobness... But I've got the following:

List<Integer> myList = new ArrayList<Integer>()

Now myList is declared as a List but initialized as an ArrayList, my question is, can I use ArrayList methods (not supported by List) on myList?

Thx in advance
(PS: it is quit possible that this question is already somewhere on this forum, but after 45 minutes searching I really had enough sorry for that :cool: )

Peace Out nFm!

The best way to figure this out would really be to test it. Make a small example which creates an array list as you want to test it. Then perform different array list methods on it, and print the list between each method, finally, see what happens when you compile it.

Short answer: Yes, you can use arrayList method.


long(ish) answer: List is actually an interface, which array list implements. If you don't know about interfaces, check this link: What Is an Interface? (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Object-Oriented Programming Concepts), Short explanation of interface: An interface is a non instantiable blueprint(I use blue print because it's sort of a class, but not). It's basically a fully abstract class, none of the methods have bodies and any class that implements them must have an implementation of every method.

The List can't be instantiated so

Code:

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List<Integer> myList = new List<Integer>();

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would not work.

Since array list implements this interface it must implement each method in the interface. The methods you called are called correctly thanks to polymorphism. Polymorphism (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Interfaces and Inheritance)

Polymorphism let's you do some interesting things, try this snippet out

Code:

---

class A{
  public void print(){
    System.out.println("Class A");
  }
}

class B extends A{
  @override public void print(){
    System.out.println("Class B");
  }
}

class C extends A{
  @override public void print(){
    System.out.println("Class C");
  }
}

public class D extends A{
  @override public void print(){
    System.out.println("Class D");
  }
  public static void main(String[] args){
    A a, b, c, d;
    a = new A();
    b = new B();
    c = new C();
    d = new D();
    a.print();
    b.print();
    c.print();
    d.print();
  }
}

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After you get the understanding of polymorphism and interfaces head to these two links

List (Java Platform SE 6)
ArrayList (Java Platform SE 6)

These are the API's for List, and ArrayList, compare and contrast which methods array list has that list also has. Find the ones list doesn't have but array list does have(are there any?)

I hope this helps, post back if you aren't clear on anything.

Everything cleared out, thank you very much!

You are welcome. Please mark your thread solved with the thread tools at the top.

Hmmmm I was a bit to quick here,
Let me do this with an example:

public class Animal{
public void eat(){...}
public void sleep(){...}
}

public class Kitten extends Animal{
public void miauw(){...}
}

now the following:

Animal a1 = new Animal();
Kitten k1 = new Kitten();
Animal k2 = new Kitten();

a1.eat() // no problems here
k1.eat() // no problems here
k2.eat() // no problems here
k1.miauw() // works fine
k2.miauw() // compiler starts to complain becuase it can find symbol method miauw() in class Dier

The problem here is that we know the class k2 is a kitten, however; the compiler thinks it's an animal, and animal doesn't have the method you want.

Something like

Code:

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((Kitten)k2).miauw();

---

Should work(test it to make sure).

If the super class and subclass have the same methods(subclass methods override the superclass ones) the compiler can figure out and use the correct method thanks to polymorphism.

Indeed it works, so typecasting it will be!!

Thanx

(PS I'm looking in thread tools to mark this as solvedn but where the hell is it? Can't find it.. feeling a little bit dumb now)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NatureFreshMilk

(PS I'm looking in thread tools to mark this as solvedn but where the hell is it? Can't find it..

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When you open your own thread, check the thread name, "Collections". Below that there is a toolbar, which has "Thread Tools" drop down menu. Mark it solved from there.

Or if you still can't find it, then go by the old way. Hit Ctrl+F on whichever browser you are and type "Thread Tools", you will probably find only one match. :p

Hope that makes it clear,

Goldest

The Thread Tools I found, but it only gives me four options:
-Show Printable Version
-EMail this Page
-Unsubscribe from thread
-Add a Poll

Mark as solved is nowhere to be found =p...
Well maybe I stumble on it one day or another!

Peace!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NatureFreshMilk

Indeed it works, so typecasting it will be!!

Thanx

(PS I'm looking in thread tools to mark this as solvedn but where the hell is it? Can't find it.. feeling a little bit dumb now)

---

If you find yourself typecasting a lot then you may well have a design flaw.

@ Tolls

Yeah I know. But there was an example (actually a few) in my schoolbook that didn't work, and appearantly doesn't make any sense... I tought about pointing out all the mistakes in the book, but I found out that writing a new book would consume less time... :cool:

And instead of asking the teacher (not the brightest one, god knows where they found him), I preffer asking my questions to a much more experienced, and very helpfull community!!

I was just about to come here and bring that up. Typecasting, while it works for such a trivial example, it's probably not the best because if you have a method that takes Animal, it can take animal, cat, kitten, dog, puppy, etc. If you typecast it to kitten you run into an error. So be careful not to fall in love with it.


edit: perhaps the area to mark threads solved was changed along with the forums.

NatureFreshMilk,

In case if you are interested, have a look at this nice article : Casting Reference Variables

Hope that helps,

Goldest