Array declaration and initialization

[Vivek Shrivastava]

Is there any difference with these two statements?
int a[][] = new int[][]{{1,2,3} , {1,2,3}};
Or
int a[][] = {{1,2,3} , {1,2,3}};

regards
vivek
[This message has been edited by Vivek Shrivastava (edited June 06, 2000).]

[Fred Abbot]

no they both work fine
here is another alternative
int[]a[]={1,2,3},{1,2,3};
[This message has been edited by Fred Abbot (edited June 06, 2000).]

[Adrian Ferreira]

Fred,
I suppose you forgot one pair of "{}". Please, correct me if it is wrong now.
int[]a[]={{1,2,3},{1,2,3}};
Adrian

[Vivek Shrivastava]

Fred,
i tried to compile with your syntex , it didn't work out. i think u are missing something.
int[]a[]={1,2,3},{1,2,3}; //doesn't work
regard

[Fred Abbot]

adrian is right you need another set of curly bracaes around the whole statement
i was nt tring to show you that part as you already knew that my point is that these brackets[]can be placed on either side

[Vivek Shrivastava]

Oh! got your point.
thanks.

[Herbert Maosa]

Vivek , I reproduce your question below:
-----------------------------------------------------------------Is there any difference with these two statements?
int a[][] = new int[][]{{1,2,3} , {1,2,3}};
Or
int a[][] = {{1,2,3} , {1,2,3}};
---------------------------------------------------------------
I say YES, there is a difference.FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT!!!
A.int a[][] = new int[][]{{1,2,3},{1,2,3}}; is called an array creation statement.
B.int a[][] ={{1,2,3},{1,2,3}}; is an array Initialiser.
The difference is that you can use A,(the array creation statement) anywhere in your code where you want to create a pre-declared array.But you can use B(the array initialiser) only at the same point you are declaring the array, otherwise it will be illegal and will not compile.Do you get it ? Oky, This is what I mean.
You can declare an array as int [][]a; and defer its creation to a later time. Then, at that opportune time you can legally write:
a = new int[][]{{1,2,3},{1,2,3}};//LEGAL, and it will work fine. However if you declared your array as above, without initializing, you CAN NOT later on say:
a ={{1,2,3},{1,2,3}};//ILLEGAL.You would have no choice now but to say a = new int[2][3]; or new int[2][] and initialise the elements one by one.
Do I make any Sense ?
Herbert.

[Vivek Shrivastava]

Yes Herbert you really makes sense.
Thanks for a nice explanation.
vivek

[Vivek Shrivastava]

Hey herbert,
i just tried to compile following program.
public class Test
{
int c[][];
int d[][];
int a[][] =new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}}; //working
int b[][] = {{1,2},{3,4}}; //working
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}}; //not working
d = {{1,2},{3,4}};
}

as per your point array c should be complied fine but it didn't. can u please explain or am i missing something?
vivek

[Herbert Maosa]

Vivek,
you wrote:
-----------------------------------------------------------
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}}; //not working
d = {{1,2},{3,4}};
}
------------------------------------------------------------
You are right to say that c should work, and it REALLY should. If your programm is not working, it is probably because of the following line, that is, d = {{1,2},{3,4}}//Remember this CAN NOT WORK. Take out this part here, or comment it and it WILL work.
Regards,
Herbert.

[Vivek Shrivastava]

Herbert,
believe me i tried it without second statement( d = {{},{}}); and it is not working.
what i tried
public class Test
{
int c[][];
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}

feel free to correct me.
vivek
[This message has been edited by Vivek Shrivastava (edited June 06, 2000).]

[Rick]

For the SCJP exam; be very mindful of where you are and
aren't allowed to position the array brackets!!

[kiranv]

Vivek,
Did you put the above code in main mthd, it should work fine...
thnks

[Herbert Maosa]

Vivek,
I think I see the problem with your code.But it is a different issue altogether, so I will only touch it VERY BRIEFLY, only that the code it should work and that you should appreciate the array creation statement.
When you code:
int [][] c;
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
You will not compile successfully. My reasoning is that in the second line, the compiler can not permit you to do this unless you enclose the second line in a pair of braces, or put it in a method. Thus
int [][] c;
{
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
//Should wok.
This has the effect of indicating to the compiler that the second variable c, is refering to the same c you already declared.Otherwise, if you put them in the same name space as you did, the compiler will probably ask you to provide an identifier.
Have Fun.
Herbert

[kiranv]

herbert,
I did not get your point..
I dont think the code below works
public class test{
int[][] c;
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
I have the below code working:
public class test{
public static void main(String args[]){
int[][] c;
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
}
or we could do this:
public class test{
static int[][] c;
public static void main(String args[]){
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
}
Did I get it correctly?
thnks

[ARS Kumar]

Hi kiranv
---------------------------------
You wrote
herbert,
I did not get your point..
I dont think the code below works
public class test{
int[][] c;
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
Herbert doesn't say that this will work. The initilization
code c = new int [][]{{1,2},{3,4}}; has to be inside a method or
inside a initializer code block.
So
public class test{
int[][] c;
{
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
}
Will work

I have the below code working:
public class test{
public static void main(String args[]){
int[][] c;
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
}
or we could do this:
public class test{
static int[][] c;
public static void main(String args[]){
c = new int[][]{{1,2},{3,4}};
}
}
Both the above cases had the code inside the main method. So these two should work.
Did I get it correctly?
thnks
--------------------------------
I did some comments to your question. Hope this helps.
Thanks
ARS Kumar.