Java, what is char mainly used for? - Overclock.net

ModeX · 04-07-07

Other than for switches, I really haven't found any uses for char. My book doesn't explain much about char, and google didn't turn up any results(or at least results I could understand

). Also why is char needed? I just want to know if I'm missing something big about not knowing how to use char that's all, all help will be very appreciated!

rabidgnome229 · 04-07-07

Flags, various uses pertaining to strings, plenty of stuff

Admittedly char's are not as powerful in java as in other languages. C, for example, does not have strings, but rather arrays of char's (java's string class is really pretty much just that, but there is a separate class for it).

That question is very hard to answer tho - kinda like "what do I use a nail for?" Depending on what you need to do you may have a hundred uses for chars or none

ModeX · 04-07-07

The reason why I asked is because even though I'm a newb, if I were to make a program with Java I wouldn't think of using chars. I was wondering if that would be a problem thats all

rabidgnome229 · 04-07-07

No - if you don't need char's that isn't a problem. Remember too that while you're learning the programs you create do more or less nothing. The scope is so small that it isn't surprising that you don't need some stuff

H3||scr3am · 04-07-07

I personally use chars as a catch, or a break from a loop. so a conditional flag. You can do it without using chars though...

*dangerousHobo* · 04-07-07

Like rabidgnome229 basically already said. In languages like C/C++ (and many others), there are no strings, in the java sense of a string. So to have a string in those languages you create an array of characters. Java does the same thing but it happens behind the scenes and you don't have to worry about it. There is a String class is java that takes care of that. I don't use chars that often either, I tend to use boolean instance variables as flag, unless their are many option and then usually I try using an array to manage the objects, so then I'm dealing with integers.
It just all depends on the task at hand and how you think about solving the problem. There is nothing wrong with not thinking to use chars in a situation though.

ModeX · 04-07-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3||scr3am

I personally use chars as a catch, or a break from a loop. so a conditional flag. You can do it without using chars though...

could you give me a simple example of that pls

*dangerousHobo* · 04-07-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModeX

could you give me a simple example of that pls

Code:

try{
      if(num<0)
            throw new NegitiveNumberException();
       /**Code*/
}
catch(NegitiveNumberExceptio e){
         System.out.println(e.getMessage());
}



String word=""
String lineInDatabase="3; cups; suger";
for(int i=0;i<lineInDatabase.length;++i){
     if(lineInDatabase.chatAt(i)!=';')
          word+=lineInDatabase.charAt(i);
}

Those are simple examples, but hopefully you get the idea.

ModeX · 04-08-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangerousHobo

Code:

try{
      if(num<0)
            throw new NegitiveNumberException();
       /**Code*/
}
catch(NegitiveNumberExceptio e){
         System.out.println(e.getMessage());
}



String word=""
String lineInDatabase="3; cups; suger";
for(int i=0;i<lineInDatabase.length;++i){
     if(lineInDatabase.chatAt(i)!=';')
          word+=lineInDatabase.charAt(i);
}

Those are simple examples, but hopefully you get the idea.

Why cups and suger

Any way Thank You

*dangerousHobo* · 04-08-07

I had to write a program for a class that managed a database of recipes, and was able to add files thats contained a recipe's list of ingredients in that order: quantity; measure; name.
So it was just fresh in my mind.

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Java, what is char mainly used for?

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