Arrays

[Ritu Kapoor]

Can anybody explain me this. Why is it returning:

1,3

Code:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
public class Casting06 {

static void m1(int[] i4, int[] i5) {
int[] i3 = i4; i4 = i5; i5 = i3;
}
public static void main (String[] args) {
int[] i1 = {1}, i2 = {3}; m1(i1, i2);
System.out.print(i1[0] + "," + i2[0]);
}
}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Output:1,3 While the expected answer is 3,1

[Raghu Shree]

When reference are passed as arguments we can't change the object reference. This changes are reflects only in called method.
If the method return the changes are revoked. So Array i1 and i2 has original reference in main method. So Output is displayed as 1,3. If we have change the object values instead of reference, this changes are also reflected in calling method.

[Srinivasa Raghavan]

See you have to keep in mind that a copy of reference is passed to the method m1.
Now try to execute this

int x = i4[0];
i4[0] = i5[0];
i5[0] = x;  

you 'll surely get to know thw concept more clearly.

[Jimmy Thomas]

Hi Ritu,

In Java arrays are Objects, so when you call the method m1(int[] i4, int[] i5), the copy of the reference to these array objects are passed. Though you're manipulating the references inside the method it's valid only within the scope of the method m1(), once this method returns the array references are the same as before the call to method m1 is made.

[Ritu Kapoor]

Thanx to all of you guys!