can't the variables be assigned a value inside the class in which its declared?

[Rohit Raghunath]

I tried the following code: which gave me compile time error.

class Test
{
int []a= new int[5];
a[0]=4;

int a;
a=9;
}


when I try this it gives no error!!!

class Test
{
int []a= {4,5,6};

int a=9;
}


why cant the variables be initialized by the first code?

[John Jai]

It's not valid to have the assignment operation outside a block in the class body provided it's not in the same line of variable declaration.

public class ValidAssign {
	int a = 1; // valid
	int b;
//	b = 2; // invalid - not in a block and not in declaration
	
	int c;
	{
		c = 3; // valid inside initializer block
	}
	
	int d;
	void someMethod (){
		d = 4; // valid inside method block
	}
}

Please UseOneThreadPerQuestion and CodeTags

[Matthew Brown]

Duplicate of http://www.coderanch.com/t/581364/java-programmer-SCJP/certification/variables-assigned-value-inside-class. Both have got answers, so I'm going to lock this one, but I'll post a link back because of John's answer.