Returning local objects

[Lowest0ne]

I have a class that has 4 lists. I want a method that will return one list that is the "sum" of the 4 lists. The way I envision this is:

public List<String> getLists()
{
  List<String> newList = new List<String>();
  // Add my first list to newList
  // Add my second list to newList
  // Add my third list to newList
  // Add my fourth list to newList
  return newList;
}

In C++, this is bad news, the newList is local to the function, and goes out of scope upon return. Is this true with Java as well?

If so, I should mention that I have made the List class myself, thus I could do some constructor work:

public List<String> getLists()
{
  List<String> newList = new List<String>();
  // Add my first list to newList
  // Add my second list to newList
  // Add my third list to newList
  // Add my fourth list to newList
  return new List<String>(newList.begin(), newList.end());  // Return a copy of the local list
}

Any better? Thanks

[Sierra]

Hell no, even in C++ you may do it like that if you use pointers of course - only the variable is local, the object remains if created correctly. The point is that this will work fine as java will keep any object as long as it is referenced somewhere.

Usually you add other lists by using newList.addAll(...) - note however that with that you do not create "New" objects. Every change you do in the old lists will be in the new lists as the objects contained will be the exact same.