tiger - doubt in this code ...

[ankur rathi]

I found this in one document :

private void printListOfStrings(List<String> list) {
for (Iterator<String> i = list.iterator(); i.hasNext(); ) {               System.out.println(i.next());    
}
}

1] This method should be called with a parameter of type List<String>, but it can be called with a parameter of type List
2]The disadvantage is that the compiler won�t catch errors . instead, errors will cause a ClassCastException
3] This is necessary for backward compatibility
Similarly, the Iterator need not be an Iterator<String>

But I am cofuse with first point . why it allow to call this method with any list ( I mean , a list which is not paramaterized by String ( can have other than String ) )

please help ...
Thanks a lot .

[marc weber]

Originally posted by rathi ji:
... But I am cofuse with first point . why it allow to call this method with any list ( I mean, a list which is not paramaterized by String ( can have other than String ) )...

The parameterized type is List<String>. To allow for backward compatability, a non-typed List will also be accepted (compiling with a warning, but no error). However, a List with a type parameter other than String will not compile.
[ March 01, 2005: Message edited by: marc weber ]

[ankur rathi]

private void printListOfStrings(List<String> list) {
for (Iterator<String> i = list.iterator(); i.hasNext(); ) {                System.out.println(i.next());    
}
}

Means this is acceptable :

List myList = new ArrayList();
printListOfStrings(myList); // just show warnings

but this will give compile time error :

List<Integer> myList = new ArrayList<Integer>();
printListOfStrings(myList); // compile time error

Is this right ?
Thanks a lot .

[marc weber]

That's right.

(Have you been able to install Tiger yet?)

[ankur rathi]

One more doubt is , How can we solve this problem

It may show ClassCastException because of user has entered a list that is not paramaterized ( list of 1.4 ) ...

How can we avoid that ...

Thanks a lot .

[ankur rathi]

(Have you been able to install Tiger yet?)

No marc ,
Thanks .
[ March 01, 2005: Message edited by: rathi ji ]

[marc weber]

Originally posted by rathi ji:
... How can we solve this problem
It may show ClassCastException because of user has entered a list that is not paramaterized ( list of 1.4 ) ...

How can we avoid that ...

You can write your own code to verify the runtime type of each List element before attempting to cast:

Object ob = iter.next();
if(ob instanceof String) { //cast to String }
else //avoid cast exception

[marc weber]

Here's what you would actually see compiling the above examples in Tiger...

Compiler error using List<Integer>:

...printListOfStrings(java.util.List<java.lang.String> ; ) in ClassName cannot be applied to (java.util.ArrayList<java.lang.Integer> ; ) ...

Compiler warning using non-typed List:

Note: FileName.java uses unchecked or unsafe operations...
[ March 01, 2005: Message edited by: marc weber ]

[ankur rathi]

Thank you very much marc .