Clarification about creating arrays.

[Hal Videira]

Hi Guys,
I have been sent to this forum head first.

// now make a Dog array
Dog[] myDogs = new Dog[3];
// and put some dogs in it
myDogs[0] = new Dog();
myDogs[1] = new Dog();
myDogs[2] = dog1;

On line 2, my understanding is that a new array with space for 3 Dog reference variables is created. Then the array is assigned to the variable myDog which is of type Dog. Is this correct?

Many Thanks,

Hal

[Antany Vasanth]

Hi Hal,

Welcome to Java Ranch..

If "dog1" is instance of Dog then the code is correct.

Regards,
Antany

[Steve Luke]

Hal Videira wrote:On line 2, my understanding is that a new array with space for 3 Dog reference variables is created. Then the array is assigned to the variable myDog which is of type Dog. Is this correct?

Welcome to JavaRanch!

You are almost correct:
"a new array with space for 3 Dog reference variables is created"
Correct

"Then the array is assigned to the variable myDog"
Correct

"myDog ... is of type Dog."
Incorrect. The type of myDog is Dog Array, or Dog[]. If it were of type Dog, for instance, you would be able to do this:

Dog yourDog = myDog;

Since both yourDog and myDog would be the same type. But that would fail.

myDog is of type Dog Array, which holds references of type Dog.

[Christophe Verré]

Is this correct?

Almost. Except that the array is assigned to the variable myDogs which is of type array of Dog.
But you've got the main point.

[Hal Videira]

Thanks for clearing that up, and also for the greetings.