Need help with arrays and comparing integers in arrays with a number.

[Thomas Mullane]

I'm trying to write a method in Java that takes an array of ints (myArray) and an int (num) and returns a boolean value to say whether or not number is in myArray but using compareTo. However don't know how to use it too well and and stuck on it. Would love help as I'm a beginner programmer. Here is my code so far!

boolean searchMethodV1(int[] myArray, int num)
{
    boolean Output = false ;
    for (int i=0;i< myArray.length; i++) { 
        if (num.compareTo(myArray[i]) == 0){   << Getting an error here that says int cannot be dereferenced!
            Output = true; 
        }
        else {
            Output = false;
        }
    }
    return Output; 
}

[Edit - added code tags - see UseCodeTags]

[Matthew Brown]

Hi Thomas. Welcome to The Ranch!

int is a primitive type - it doesn't have any methods. So you can't call compareTo on it. Just use ==

A couple of other tips:

- Instead of if (condition) output = true; else output = false;, it's much easier to read if you just write output = condition;

- (Edit - deleted comment on brackets - my mistake!)

[Seetharaman Venkatasamy]

Welcome to JavaRanch Thomas Mullane !

As error stated

 if (num.compareTo(myArray[i]) == 0)

base type does not have methods. use == instead of compareTo as in below

if(num == myArray[i])) //perfect!

[Seetharaman Venkatasamy]

Matthew is much faster!

[Matthew Brown]

Seetharaman Venkatasamy wrote:Matthew is much faster!

I'm not sure I'd count 7 seconds as "much"!

[Thomas Mullane]

Thanks a million for the help works great now!

[Seetharaman Venkatasamy]

Thomas Mullane wrote:Thanks a million for the help works great now!

You are welcome

[Campbell Ritchie]

It is the 7 seconds bit that is impressive. Anybody can be hours ahead, but 7 seconds apart is good