parameter passing question for array reference

[Bernd Stransky]

Hi,
following example works fine:
void m(long l) {}
....
int i=99; m(i); //numeric promotion
but why does this one not?
void m(long[] l) {}
....
int[] i={1,2,3}; m(i);
I get a compiler error message: "m(long[]) cannot be applied to (int[])"
BTW: If I use an assignment, the compiler error says 'Incompatible Types'.
I thought that assignment of arrays (which are references) work fine as long as the source type (int) can be converted to the destination type (long).
-Bernd

[Valentin Crettaz]

Arrays containing primitives are special and are not treated like arrays containing references.
As you already know arrays are objects in Java, thus we have to do with a widening reference conversion issue.
From JLS 5.1.4 Widening Reference Conversions

The following conversions are called the widening reference conversions:
- blablabla
- From any array type SC[] to any array type TC[], provided that SC and TC are reference types and there is a widening conversion from SC to TC.

This is the key, int and long are not reference types.

[Jennifer Wallace]

An array of references can only be converted into another array of references, if the reference types held by the arrays are convertible .
Doesnt work for primitive arrays !

[Bernd Stransky]

Thank you for the info.
I guess I should start reading the JLS!
-Bernd

[Bernd Stransky]

OK,
so this works:
void m(Number [] n) {}
...
Integer I[] = { new Integer(1),new Integer(2)}
m(I);
:roll: Bernd

[Valentin Crettaz]

yes I wonder why though