static int findPerson(String n, int NP, Friend[] giftGivers){
int index = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < NP; i++){
if (giftGivers[i].name == n){
index = i;
}
}
return index;
}
I have this code in Java for a method to search through an array of Friends to find the index number of the person with the name input by String n. however i have found that the index number does not set to the index number it is should be. Is it because it is in the if statement?
if (giftGivers[i].name == n) is wrong, use if (giftGivers[i].name.equals(n))
BTW, there is no need to use NP. It's C-style, not necessary (actually, pretty dangerous) in Java. Instead of
for (int i = 0; i < NP; i++),
just say for (int i = 0; i < giftGivers.length; i++)
You need to use equals to compare strings not ==.
== will compare the object references rather than the actual string value.
If you don't care about case, then there is also an equals method that ignores case
(giftGivers[i].name == n){
should be
(giftGivers[i].name.equals(n)){
String/Object comparison should use .equals() instead of ==
== will check for reference equality. equals() check for object equality.
.equals() method checks for equality of two string objects, == operator checks if two refrence variables point to the same String object.
In your case you have to use .equals() method
if (giftGivers[i].name.equals(n))
refer to String API.
Note that if you wanna check if two strings are equal case insensitive use equalsIgnoreCase()
{ for(int i = 0; i < giftGivers.length; i++) if (...) { return i; } }or{ int i = 0; while(i < giftGivers.length && !giftGivers[i].name.equals(n)) { i++; } return i; }