You create a class called A with a final variable called z. Is it possible to have three instances of A, each of which has a different value for z? The following answer explains that you can do this, but i thought that z was automatically initialized to 0 and since its final, it cant be changed. Why is my thinking wrong???
The following code shows one way to do it: class A { static int nth; final int z; A() { z = nth++; } public static void main(String[] args) { new A(); new A(); new A(); } }
Sean Casey
Ranch Hand
Joined: Dec 16, 2000
Posts: 625
posted
0
In this case z is considered a blank final. A blank final is when you declare a final variable without initializing it. If you don't initialize by the time it's used, then it would cause a compiler error. In this instance, you are initializing z in the constructor, so you don't get the compiler error. The reason that the z value is able to change in this example is because you are not explicitly changing the z value. the nth value changes and it just so happens that z aquires that value during initialization. The value of z changes each time z is initialized. If you tried to change the value of z after initialization, then you'd get an error. Note that each time a new A object is created, a blank copy of the final variable z is given to the constructor. The variable nth will change with each new object A because it is a static variable. [This message has been edited by Sean Casey (edited February 23, 2001).] [This message has been edited by Sean Casey (edited February 23, 2001).]
0
