Local parameter by value vs. reference?

[Joseph Edward]

Hi,

On specification page 52, 5.3 Local Clientes, last paragraph:

"The arguments and results of the methods of the local interface and local home interface are passed by reference."

I found it a bit confusing, I think it�s by value.....Even when a reference is passed, it�s passed by value... or not?
And if an argument is a primitive?


Thanks

[Kathy Sierra]

This is *really* bad terminology, and ironically, violates the way Sun officially describes the Java language semantics or pass-by-value. In the Java sense, local interfaces means that both the caller and the object being called are on the same heap, so it's just plain old Java pass-by-value (which as you mentioned, for object references you get the value (a copy) of the reference, and for primtives, you get a copy of the value of the primitive.

So, nothing is really pass-by-reference in the way that we use the term, but people use it differently, even within Sun.

Basically, it's something like this:

* When passing an object to or from a REMOTE method call, you pass a copy of the OBJECT.

* When passing an object to or from a LOCAL method call, you pass a copy of the REFERENCE.

* For primitives, it makes no difference--you're always getting a copy of the value of the primitive.

cheers,
Kathy

[Joseph Edward]

Thank you Kathy, it�s all clear now

Edward