How to check if an array is initialized?

807601 Dec 28, 2007 9:34 PM

Hi, this is my first post on this forums, and I have a question that I could not find the answer to using Google or the forum search feature.

My question is: How do I check to see if an array variable is initialized?

My goal here is to have something like:

// Somewhere in the program:
int[] foo;

// Somewhere else in the program:
if (foo is not initialized) {
// do stuff
}

1. Re: How to check if an array is initialized?

807601 Dec 28, 2007 9:35 PM (in response to 807601)
if (foo == null)
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2. Re: How to check if an array is initialized?

807601 Dec 28, 2007 9:44 PM (in response to 807601)
That was quick :-)

I've tried that, but the NetBeans compiler I'm using refuses to compile it, it says:

variable foo might not have been initialized
if (foo == null)
1 error

(My test code:
int[] foo; if (foo == null) System.out.println("Null");
)

Is the problem with my compiler settings?
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3. Re: How to check if an array is initialized?

807601 Dec 28, 2007 9:48 PM (in response to 807601)

Myrmadon wrote:
Is the problem with my compiler settings?
No, the variable must be definitely assigned before being used. Initialize foo to null.
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4. Re: How to check if an array is initialized?

jschellSomeoneStoleMyAlias Dec 28, 2007 10:07 PM (in response to 807601)

So summing it up.

int[] foo = null;

if (foo == null)
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5. Re: How to check if an array is initialized?

807601 Dec 28, 2007 10:31 PM (in response to jschellSomeoneStoleMyAlias)

That was it, it works now. Many thanks guys!
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