Explain the output...

[Sadhu Yadav]

Which statement 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.
}
}


A) b++;

B) b = a;

C) c[0]++;

D) d[0]++;

E) c = d;

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The correct answer is E. I would like to know why it is not C, as we are trying to change the value of a final variable.

[Sunil Kumar Gupta]

For ur knowledge , c[0] is not a final variable........see the
declaration...

it's a simple integer variable

[Sravan Kumar]

When a reference is declared final, it means you cannot change the value in the reference i.e. it cannot point to some other object. Whereas the value in that object can still be changed using this reference.

In the method, the local reference c is final. This means you cannot assign any other int[] reference, say d, to c. Option C changes the value in the array object (this object is not final, only its reference is). This is allowed.

[Satish Chilukuri]

When you say c[0]++, you are not changing the value of the final refernce variable c, but changing the value of an int variable pointed to by c[0].

If you try to do something like this:

c = d;

then the compiler will complain because you trying to change the value of a final refernce variable.

[Sadhu Yadav]

Thanks for ur responses.

I think Mr Sravan is very correct to point out that we cannot make a final reference variable to point to some other object but we can definetly change the value of the object pointed by it.

Thanks Sravan.