Difference b/w read() and read(char[])

[Awais Sheikh]

I am reading a file using FileReader object.

  
char[] in=new char[50];
int size1=0;
int size2=0;
try
{
   File file=new File("c:/abc.txt");
   //File contains "Awais Awais" i.e. 11 Chars
   FileReader fr=new File Reader(file);
   size1=fr.read(); //used to check the size
   size2=fr.read(in);//used to check the size and read the file in char array
   System.out.println(size1);
   System.out.println(size2);
}
catch(IOException ex){}
  

Why size1 is printing 65?, while size2 is showing 11 which is correct.
Is both methods are not same? I think read() is used to read the size of file while read(char[]) is used to read the file in char array and returns the size of file. Am I right? If I am right then why both are showing different values?

Thanks for your considerations.

Regards
Awais

[Barry Gaunt]

I think read() is used to read the size of file

But what does the API say read() returns?

I was not too lazy to look it up, but I am too lazy to write down what I found
[ September 20, 2006: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Henry Wong]

Why size1 is printing 65?, while size2 is showing 11 which is correct.
Is both methods are not same? I think read() is used to read the size of file while read(char[]) is used to read the file in char array and returns the size of file. Am I right? If I am right then why both are showing different values?

read() does *not* return the size of the file. It returns one char that is read (as a int with the unicode value) or -1, if there is nothing to read.

read(char[]) also does *not* return the size of the file. It returns the number of characters that it has read into the array. (and of course, store those values into the array)

See the JavaDoc for more details.

Henry


[UPDATE NOTE: I like Barry's response better. Silly to keep coming here when it takes seconds to look it up]
[ September 20, 2006: Message edited by: Henry Wong ]

[Awais Sheikh]

Sir! Thanks for your helpful replies. JavaRanch is always helpful to learners.
Now I understand that
read() returns the single char and read(char[]) returns number of characters in the array which we have read from file.
Thank you very much.

cheers
Awais