I have a function that takes a String[] argument. How is it possible that this:
String[] string = {"string1", "string2"};
myFunction(string);
works, whereas this:
myFunction({"string1", "string2"});
doesn't? It gives me the error:
Illegal start of expression not a statement ";" expected
The standalone {"string1", "string2"} is syntactic sugar: the compiler can infer what it is supposed to be only when you are declaring and initializing your array. On it's own, however, this syntax will not work:
String[] s1 = {"abc"}; // works
String[] s2;
s2 = {"abc"}; // error, need to explicitly use 'new String[]{"abc"}'
Just as an aside, in your case you might be able to avoid the explicit array creation by using varargs:
void myFunction(String... args) {
// args is a String[]
}
...
myFunction("string1", "string2");
String the last argument. e.g. void f(int x, Object[] y, String... z) {}.You need
myFunction(new String[]{"string1", "string2"});
The syntax is explained in the Java Language Specification, Chapter 10.2 Array Variables
{} notation is only valid for initialization (i.e. when assigning a value to a variable at the point where it's declared). Everywhere else you need to use the explicit new String[] {}.This Is because when you pass {"string1","string2"} as the argument of the method It does not know what it is what to expect of it.
As per the document the syntax is only allowed when you declare and instantiate array variable at the same time
int[] a={1,4,8,6}; //allowed
this will make array of int having length equal to the number of values passed in the parenthesis . . so you can pass anonymous array object like this
method(new int[]{2,4,8,9});
but not like method({2,4,8,9});
