Initializing an array class variable in a constructor

Question

The following code gives errors:

public class SomeClass
{
    private int a;
    private int b;
    private int c;
    private int[] values;

    public SomeClass()
    {
        a = 1;
        b = 2;
        c = 3;
        values = {a, b, c};
    }

    public static void Main()
    {
        SomeClass sc = new SomeClass();
    }

}

I want values to contain a,b, and c.

I also tried initializing the array outside of the constructor like this.

private int[] values = {a, b, c};

and initializing it fully inside the constructor like this:

int[] values = {a, b, c};

but none of these do the trick.

missing new keyword

Omri Btian
– Omri Btian

2013-09-26 20:02:40 +00:00
Commented Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02 — Omri Btian
– Omri Btian, Commented Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02
Arrays are objects - you need to new one up....

Vivek
– Vivek

2013-09-26 20:02:58 +00:00
Commented Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02 — Vivek
– Vivek, Commented Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02

Reed Copsey · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-26 20:07:40Z

7

Arrays are an object and require you to explicitly use new to construct them.

You can use:

values = new int[] {a, b, c};

Or the even shorter syntax:

values = new[] {a, b, c};

On a side note, if you're writing the array declaration and initialization in one statement, you can actually write them as you did:

int[] values2 = { a, b, c};

However, since you have values declared as a field, this won't work within the constructor for the values initialization, as you're initializing separate from your declaration.

edited Sep 26, 2013 at 20:07

answered Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02

Reed Copsey

567k80 gold badges1.2k silver badges1.4k bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Tim Schmelter Over a year ago

But this works and is also an array in the constructor: int[] values2 = { 1, 2, 3 };. Why does it work for local variables?

Tilak · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-26 20:02:38Z

0

Try following

int[] values = new int[]{a, b, c};

answered Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02

Tilak

30.8k19 gold badges85 silver badges133 bronze badges

Comments

p.s.w.g · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-26 20:02:53Z

0

This would work:

values = new[] { a, b, c };

Or

values = new int[] { a, b, c };

Further Reading

Arrays Tutorial for more examples.

answered Sep 26, 2013 at 20:02

p.s.w.g

150k31 gold badges307 silver badges339 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Initializing an array class variable in a constructor

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related