Does sun spec guarantee default initialization for primitive arrays

[Abhinav Anand]

Hi all,

As far as i know about java for all these years. The following rule applies for arrays:

If the elements in an array are not purposely initialized when the array is created, the array elements will be automatically initialized with default values. The default values are:

* All reference types: null
* Primitive numeric types: 0
* Primitive boolean type: false
* Primitive char type: the Unicode character with 16 zero-valued bits ('\u0000' (the NUL character)

I have to prove to my client (he is in automation field) that a primitive array is by default initialized with 0. Please tell me where in the java specification is this behavior guaranteed.

Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Abhinav

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Section 15.10.1 of the third edition:

Then, if a single DimExpr appears, a single-dimensional array is created of the specified length, and each component of the array is initialized to its default value (�4.12.5).

If an array creation expression contains N DimExpr expressions, then it effectively executes a set of nested loops of depth N-1 to create the implied arrays of arrays.

[Rick O'Shay]

If you create an array it is guaranteed to be initialized regardless of the type or where you instantiate it: local, static, instance. Of course, that's not true of the array reference itself but we knew that.