Changing value of Final variable

[Atul Sawant]

This is one of the review question in Khalid Mughal.

Question:

Which statements would cause a compilation error if inserted in the location indicated in the following program?

public class ParameterUse {
static void main(String[] args) {
int a = 0;
final int b = 1;
int[] c = { 2 };
final int[] d = { 3 };
useArgs(a, b, c, d);
}

static void useArgs(final int a, int b, final int[] c, int[] d) {
// INSERT STATEMENT HERE.
}
}

Select the two correct answers.

a) a++;

b) b++;

c) b = a;

d) c[0]++;

e) d[0]++;

f) c = d;

The answer is a and f. I am wondering why it is not d.

Here is the explanation in the book for the answers however i am not convinced. Can anyone please help me here.

Values can only be assigned once to final variables. A final formal parameter is assigned the value of the actual parameter at method invocation. Within the method body, it is illegal to reassign or modify the value of a final parameter. This causes a++ and c = d to fail. Whether the actual parameter is final does not constrain the client that invoked the method, since the actual parameter values are copied to the formal parameters.

[Naseem Khan]

Read question again. What would cause compiler error if inserted.

a and f would cause compilation error.

a is final can't be incremented

f because c array is final.


Naseem
[ July 21, 2006: Message edited by: Naseem Khan ]

[Atul Sawant]

Exactly, If C is final then how can it be incremented and not cause a compilation error? i.e. c[0]++ (option d).

Kindly answer.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Originally posted by Atul Savant:
Exactly, If C is final then how can it be incremented and not cause a compilation error? i.e. c[0]++ (option d).

In this code, c is not being incremented; you can't increment an array. One of the array elements is being incremented. This is always OK, because there's no such thing as an array with final elements. A final variable referring to an array means you can't make the variable point to another array; you can change the array elements' values, however.

[Sireesha Mullapudi]

Hi,

Here the reference is final.so u can't assign new reference it.But u can change the object it points to.That's why we are able to increments it's elements.

Thanks

[Aum Tao]

But u can change the object it points to

You can't change the object a final reference points to. That's why c = d gives compiler error.

[Atul Sawant]

Thanks! :-)