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This chapter provides an overview of array declaration and use, bounds checking, and capacity. It covers storing object references in arrays, variable length parameter lists, multidimensional arrays, and the ArrayList class.
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Chapter overview • This chapter focuses on • Array declaration and use • Bounds checking and capacity • Arrays storing object references • Variable length parameter lists • Multidimensional arrays • The ArrayList class
Chapter overview • This chapter focuses on • Array declaration and use • Bounds checking and capacity • Arrays storing object references • Variable length parameter lists • Multidimensional arrays • The ArrayList class
Arrays: definition • Array • is a powerful construct used to group and organize data • manages a large amount of information • such as a list of 100 names • it is not logical to declare separate variables in this case • declares one variable • Holding multiple, individually accessible values
The entire array has a single name Each value has a numeric index 79 87 94 82 67 98 87 81 74 91 height Arrays • An array is an ordered list of values 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 • Array indices always begin at zero • An array of size N is indexed from zero to N-1 • This array holds 10 values that are indexed from 0 to 9
Accessing array elements • A particular value in an array • is referenced using the array name • followed by the index in brackets • Example: height[2] refers to the value 94 • height[2] referred to as array element • represents a single integer stored at a memory location • Can be used wherever an integer variable can be used
Manipulating array elements • An array element • Can be assigned a value, printed, or used in calculation height[2] = 89; height[first] = height[first] + 2; mean = (height[0] + height[1])/2; System.out.println ("Top = " + height[5]);
Array elements • Values stored in an array are called array elements • An array stores multiple values of the same type • Called the element type • The element type can be • Primitive type or • Object reference • Therefore, we can create • An array of integers, characters, or String objects
79 87 94 82 67 98 87 81 74 91 Declaring arrays 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 • In Java, the array is an object • It must be declared and instantiated as follows • int[] height = new int[10]; • The type of variable height is an array of integers (int [ ]) • And reference variable heightis set to a new array object • that holds 10 integers • Refer to BasicArray.java height
Declaring Arrays • The scores array could be declared as follows: int[] scores = new int[10]; • The type of the variable scores • is int[] (an array of integers) • Note that the array type • does not specify its size, • but each object of that type has a specific size • The reference variable scores • is set to a new array object that can hold 10 integers
Declaring Arrays • Some other examples of array declarations: float[] prices = new float[500]; boolean[] flags; flags = new boolean[20]; char[] codes = new char[1750];
Using Arrays • The iterator version of the for • loop can be used when processing array elements for (int score : scores) System.out.println (score); • This is only appropriate when • processing all array elements • from top (lowest index) to bottom (highest index)
Chapter overview • This chapter focuses on • Array declaration and use • Bounds checking and capacity • Arrays storing object references • Variable length parameter lists • Multidimensional arrays • The ArrayList class
Bounds checking • Once an array is created, it has a fixed size N • int[ ] height = new int[10]; • => size of height = 10 • An index used must specify a valid element • That is, index value must be in the range of 0 to N-1 • The valid indexes for height are from 0 to 9 • In other words, height[10], height[11], … are not allowed
Automatic bounds checking • Whenever you reference an element in the array • => the value of index used is checked • Example: height[index] => index is checked • if 0<= index <= 9 => valid • if index > 9 => index not valid (out of bound) • If an array index is out of bound • An out-of -bound exception is issued by the execution • This is called automatic bounds checking • Refer to Invalidindex.java
problem Off-by-one errors • For example, • if the array codes can hold 100 values • it can be indexed using only the numbers 0 to 99 • If the value of count is 100, • then the following reference will cause an exception to be thrown: System.out.println (codes[count]); • It’s common to introduce off-by-one errors • when using arrays for (int index=0; index <= 100; index++) codes[index] = index*50 + epsilon;
Length constant • One way to check for the bounds of an array • use the length constant • Each array has a public constant called length • That stores the size of the array • It is referenced using the array name • The array Prices created with 25 elements • Prices.length contains the value 25 • maximum index of Prices is Prices.length - 1
The length constant • Note • That length • holds the number elements • NOT the largest index • Useful in situations where you don’t know the size of the array • Refer to ReverseOrder.java • Read a list of numbers from the user • Store them in an array • Then print them in the opposite order
Alternate array syntax • When declaring an array, the brackets can either • be associated with the type of values stored in the array • float[] prices; • or with the name of array • float prices[]; • These 2 declarations are equivalent • However, the first format • Associating brackets with the type • is more readable and should be used
Initializer lists • Initializer lists • are used to instantiate an array • And provide initial values for the elements of the array • => The idea is to instantiate and fill the array in one step • Values delimited by braces and separated by commas • When used, the new operator will no more be needed • Size of array determined by the number of items in initializer
Initializer lists: Examples • Examples: int[] units = {147, 323, 89, 933, 540, 269, 97, 114, 298, 476}; char[] letterGrades = {'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', ’F'}; • Note that when an initializer list is used • The new operator is not used • no size value is specified • As size is determined by the number of items in the list • See Primes.java
Chapter overview • This chapter focuses on • Array declaration and use • Bounds checking and capacity • Arrays storing object references • Variable length parameter lists • Multidimensional arrays • The ArrayList class
Arrays of objects • The elements of an array can be object references • The following declaration • reserves space to store 5 references to String objects • String[] words = new String[5]; • Initially, an array of objects holds null references • Each object stored in an array • must be instantiated separately
- words - - - - Initial array of object declaration • The words array when initially declared • String[] words = new String[5];
“friendship” words “loyalty” “honor” - - After a few object creation • After some String objects • are created • and stored in the array
String literals • Keep in mind • String objects can be created using string literals • The following declaration • Creates an array object called verbs • and fills it with four String objects • Created using string literals String[] verbs = {"play", "work", "eat", "sleep"};
Array of objects: application • The following example • Creates an array of Grade objects • Each with • a string representation and • a numeric lower bound • Refer to GradeRange.java, and Grade.java
Command line arguments • The signature of the main method • it takes an array of String objects as a parameter • Ignored so far, let us discuss how it might be useful • The String[] parameter called args • represents command line arguments • provided when the interpreter is invoked • Extra information on CLI is stored in the args
Command line arguments (cont’d) • For example • The following invocation of the interpreter • passes 3 String objects into main • java StateEval pennsylvania texas arizona • These strings are stored • At indexes 0-2 of the array parameter of the main method • See CLI_reading.java and NameTag.java
Arrays as parameters • An entire array • Can be passed as a parameter to a method • In which case • The method may permanently change an element of the array • An individual array element • Can be passed to a method as well • The type of the parameter is the same as element type
Example • Design and implement a method • That accepts an array of integer values • and then calculates the numerical average • of the group of numbers that are stored in the array
Example: solution public double average (int[] list) { double result = 0.0; if (list.length != 0) { int sum = 0; for (int num : list) sum += num; result = (double)num / list.length; } return result; }
Method Overloading • Method overloading is the process • of giving a single method name multiple definitions • If a method is overloaded, • the method name is not sufficient to determine • which method is being called • The signature of each overloaded method must be unique • The signature includes • the number, type, and order of the parameters
Invocation result = tryMe(25, 4.32) Method Overloading • The compiler determines which method is being invoked by analyzing the parameters float tryMe(int x) { return x + .375; } float tryMe(int x, float y) { return x*y; }
Method Overloading • The println method is overloaded: println (String s) println (int i) println (double d) and so on... • The following lines invoke different versions of the println method: System.out.println ("The total is:"); System.out.println (total);
Variable length parameter lists • Suppose • We want to create a method • That processes a different amount of data • From one invocation to the next • For example, let us design a method called average • That returns the average of a set of integer parameters // one call to average three values mean1 = average (42, 69, 37); // another call to average seven values mean2 = average (35, 43, 93, 23, 40, 21, 75);
Possible solutions • define overloaded versions of the average method • Downside: • This requires that we know the max number of parameters • And create a separate version of the method • for each parameter count • define the method to accept an array of integers • Downside • Need to create the array and store integers prior to method call • Instead, Java provides a more convenient way • to create variable length parameter lists
Indicates a variable length parameter list element type array name Syntax of variable length parameter list • Using a special syntax • You can define a method • To accept any number of parameter of the same type • For each method call • The parameters are automatically • Put into an array for easy processing in the method public double average (int ... list) { // whatever }
Variable length parameter list average method public double average (int ... list) { double result = 0.0; if (list.length != 0) { int sum = 0; for (int num : list) sum += num; result = (double)num / list.length; } return result; }
Type of the multiple parameters • The type of the parameters • can be any primitive or object type public void printGrades (Grade ... grades) { for (Grade letterGrade : grades) System.out.println (letterGrade); }
methods accepting a variable number of parameters • A method • that accepts a variable number of parameters • Can also accept other parameters • The following method • Accepts an • int, a String object, and a variable number of double public void test (int count, String name, double ... nums) { // whatever }
Variable length parameter lists: example • The varying number of parameters • must come last in the formal arguments • A single method cannot accept • Two sets of varying parameters • Constructors • Can also be setup • to accept a variable number of parameters • Refer to VariableParameters.java & Family.java