understanding the method "length" and how to use it

[bigsonny]

Hello again,

so in the following code, again from the Java oracle tutorial, there is a this little line below (in red) which is confusing me. I don't understand why it is length and not length()? Also, why is nothing imported? no package, nothing, so what package does it come from?

public class Adder {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
	[COLOR="red"]int numArgs = args.length;
[/COLOR]
	//this program requires at least two arguments on the command line
        if (numArgs < 2) {
            System.out.println("This program requires two command-line arguments.");
        } else {
	    int sum = 0;

	    for (int i = 0; i < numArgs; i++) {
                sum += Integer.valueOf(args[i]).intValue();
	    }

	    //print the sum
            System.out.println(sum);
        }
    }
}

Thank you!

[DarrylBurke]

I don't understand why it is length and not length()

Because it's a field, not a method.

Names
Arrays (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Language Basics)

db

[Tolls]

length is a public attribute of an array.
There is no length() method.

As for no imports, that code is not using anything that isn't in the java.lang package, so no import statements are needed.

[bigsonny]

Because it's a field, not a method.

Names
Arrays (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Language Basics)

db

length is a public attribute of an array.
There is no length() method.

As for no imports, that code is not using anything that isn't in the java.lang package, so no import statements are needed.

How do you know that? Where in the language did you find that? I'm just looking for a class or package where I can read about it. I found the example DB, but I still don't know where it comes from. Also, speaking of arrays:

The array class defined in the API:

java.lang.Object
extended by java.lang.reflect.Array

has a This method:

static int getLength(Object array)
Returns the length of the specified array object, as an int.

Why couldn't I use it o get the size of an array?

[Tolls]

Because an array (ie int[]) is not an Array.
It is a built in thing, which has a built in property called length.
From the tutorial in Darryl's post:

Finally, you can use the built-in length property to determine the size of any array.

Now, you could use that static getLength method in Array if you wanted, but it would be a bit pointless.

[bigsonny]

Oh okay. Thanks!

[Norm]

You could use the method call but its the long way around:

int[] anArray = new int[5];
System.out.println("length=" + anArray.length + " and " + java.lang.reflect.Array.getLength(anArray));
>>> length=5 and 5

[bigsonny]

You could use the method call but its the long way around:

int[] anArray = new int[5];
System.out.println("length=" + anArray.length + " and " + java.lang.reflect.Array.getLength(anArray));
>>> length=5 and 5

This is precisely what I wanted to know. So I have to use the full name of the class to get it to work, but it's possible to use it. Thanks.

So When do you use the full name of the class? Since it's in java.lang shouldn't it automatically be available?

[Norm]

Try it and see what happens. Then you'll know and can tell us what happens.

[bigsonny]

Sweet. Alright, I tried both:

So obviously, your way with the full named worked out.
Without it I get an error "cannot find symbol"

So I added an import statement:

import java.lang.reflect.*;

and used

Array.getLength(myarray);

and it worked. Now I have a new question. Tolls made the point of indicating that array and Array are not the same which I understand that Java is case-sensitive, so why did it work?

[Norm]

so why did it work?

What is the "it" that worked?

[bigsonny]

Oh sorry.

The size of the array was returned using either statements that is array.length; and java.lang.reflect.Array.getLength(array);

so then when I imported the class, the shorter statement Array.getLength(array); also returned the size of the array.

[Norm]

That's what import statements allow you to do when referring to class names.
When you import the package, you can code the class name without the package name.

There can be confusion when you use variable names the same as class names but with different case: array and Array.
Better to use your own unique variable name: myArray

[Tolls]

Which is what that method does.
Why is that odd?

[bigsonny]

That's what import statements allow you to do when referring to class names.
When you import the package, you can code the class name without the package name.

There can be confusion when you use variable names the same as class names but with different case: array and Array.
Better to use your own unique variable name: myArray

Okay, thanks.

Which is what that method does.
Why is that odd?

hello Tolls, this is (or was) odd to me because I was mistakenly assuming that the word array was a reserved word in Java and that it meant something. It was my fault, all part of learning.

I now have another question though:

http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/...ect/Array.html

If you go there, there is these couple of lines which are now throwing me off:

newInstance

public static Object newInstance(Class<?> componentType,
int length)
throws NegativeArraySizeException

Creates a new array with the specified component type and length. Invoking this method is equivalent to creating an array as follows:

int[] x = {length};
Array.newInstance(componentType, x);

I attempted to create an array using the code in red and I entered the number 16. When I tried to ask for the length, it returned the number 1. Am I missing something?

int[] x = {16};
system.out.println(x.length); //prints 1

int[] x;			    //declares array of integers named imgNum
x = new int[16];              //allocates memory for 16 integers
System.out.println(x.length);  //prints 16

Why is that?

Is there a single statement way of declaring an array AND to allocate the right memory size for it? If so, what is it please :)

Thanks!

[Norm]

The newInstance method takes an array for a parameter. Read the doc for what the contents of that array is for. It looks like the contents here is the length of something. Perhaps the length of the first dimension of the array being created. Just a guess. I have not read the doc.

Is there a single statement way of declaring an array AND to allocate the right memory size for it?

int[] anArray = new int[25]; // create an array with 25 elements

[JosAH]

Is there a single statement way of declaring an array AND to allocate the right memory size for it? If so, what is it please :)

Sure, an initializer can do it:

int[] a= { 1, 2, 3 }; // creates an array with three elements, 1, 2 and 3
int[]b= new int[3]; // also creates an array with three elements, all zero
int[]c= { 3 }; // creates an array with one element, its value is 3

Does this clarify things a bit?

kind regards,

Jos

[bigsonny]

Sure, an initializer can do it:

int[] a= { 1, 2, 3 }; // creates an array with three elements, 1, 2 and 3
int[]b= new int[3]; // also creates an array with three elements, all zero
int[]c= { 3 }; // creates an array with one element, its value is 3

Does this clarify things a bit?

kind regards,

Jos

Yes, it does perfectly. Thanks!

[bigsonny]

The newInstance method takes an array for a parameter. Read the doc for what the contents of that array is for. It looks like the contents here is the length of something. Perhaps the length of the first dimension of the array being created. Just a guess. I have not read the doc.

int[] anArray = new int[25]; // create an array with 25 elements

I went back and re-read it and I don't get it. It uses {} and states this about the parameters

Parameters:
componentType - the Class object representing the component type of the new array
length - the length of the new array

So wouldn't that be [10] instead of {10}? Also, the Class object representing component type, I'm assuming that this means Integer, Character, String, etc...Is that a correct assumption?

[Norm]

Again. Try it and see what happens.