What is meant by the term array?

Answer 1

Arrays are objects in Java that store multiple variables of the same type. Arrays can hold either primitives or object references, but the array itself will always be an object on the heap, even if the array is declared to hold primitive elements. In other words, there is no such thing as a primitive array, but you can make an array of primitives.

Arrays are declared by stating the type of element the array will hold, which can be an object or a primitive, followed by square brackets to the left or right of the identifier.

Declaring an array of primitives:

int[] Values; // brackets before name (recommended)

int Values []; // brackets after name (legal but less readable)

// spaces between the name and [] legal, but bad

Declaring an array of object references:

Ferrari[] Ferraris; // Recommended

Ferrari Ferraris[]; // Legal but less readable

When declaring an array reference, you should always put the array brackets immediately after the declared type, rather than after the identifier (variable name). That way, anyone reading the code can easily tell that, for example, Values is a reference to an int array object, and not an int primitive.