Method to return an array element at a given position?

Question

I am trying to write a method which takes an int argument and returns the element of an array given if the passed int argument is less than the array length. I would appreciate it if someone can point me in the right direction.

Code:

String[] fruits = {"jan","feb","mar","apr","may","jun","jul","aug","sept","oct"};



public String getStr( int pos ){

    String str;

    if( pos <= fruits.length){

        for( int i=0; i < fruits.length; ++i){          
            if(fruits[i] == pos){

                str = fruits[pos];

            }//IF
        }
    }//IF
    else{
        str = null;
    }
    return str;
}//METOD

pos vs position. Which one is it? Also, What do you think fruits[i] does? — Sotirios Delimanolis
– Sotirios Delimanolis, Commented Feb 12, 2014 at 6:24
method should return void either any data type not both :public void String getStr — Shekhar Khairnar
– Shekhar Khairnar, Commented Feb 12, 2014 at 6:30
if(fruits[i] == position) fruits[i] return string and pos is integer how u r comparing this ..? — Shekhar Khairnar
– Shekhar Khairnar, Commented Feb 12, 2014 at 6:32
Thank you for all your help, now I know what I was doing wrong, and how I should be coding it. Thx — Combustion007
– Combustion007, Commented Feb 12, 2014 at 6:39

Bhoot · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-12 06:39:20Z

2

Array data structure provides random access based on array index. Therefore, you dont need to iterate over the array until you reach the required position. You can access it directly.
In Java (like most programming languages), arrays are 0-indexed. This means that for an array of size n, the indices of the array will vary from 0 to n-1. Therefore, any index <0 or index>=n will result in ArrayIndexOutofBounds exception.

Keeping in mind these things, the following code will work as desired: (assuming that 'pos' represents number based on 0-indexed counting)

String[] fruits = {"jan","feb","mar","apr","may","jun","jul","aug","sept","oct"};
public String getStr(int pos) {
    if( pos < fruits.length && pos > -1){
        return fruits[pos];
    }
    return null;
}

edited Feb 12, 2014 at 6:39

answered Feb 12, 2014 at 6:26

Bhoot

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4 Comments

Raghunandan Krishnamurthy Over a year ago

Why return when its void method?

Bhoot Over a year ago

Sorry about that. Directly copied from question code and did not pay attention.

Bhoot Over a year ago

that would just depend on how you use 'pos'. I am assuming that count of pos starts from 0.

Combustion007 Over a year ago

Yes, it does start from 0

Moritz Petersen · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-12 06:25:22Z

1

An array element can be accessed by the index. So you just have to check if the given index is within the array's bounds and then either return the array element or null. This can be written in a single line:

condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false

So, your method will look like this:

public String getStr(int pos) {
    return (pos >= 0 && pos < fruits.length) ? fruits[pos] : null;
}

answered Feb 12, 2014 at 6:25

Moritz Petersen

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Comments

Subhrajyoti Majumder · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-12 06:26:10Z

0

Check that pos wich is index of array is valid then send element else null.

return (pos >-1 && pos < fruits.length) ? fruits[pos] : null;

answered Feb 12, 2014 at 6:26

Subhrajyoti Majumder

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Comments

Anand · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-12 06:27:16Z

0

Why do you need to iterate. Arrays are there so that you can find an element by index.

Just use

if( pos <= fruits.length){
    str = fruits[pos];
}//IF
else{
    str = null;
}

answered Feb 12, 2014 at 6:27

Anand

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Comments

BitNinja · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-12 06:31:41Z

0

Ask yourself these questions:

How do you get a specific element in an array?
How would you check if the pos parameter is too large or too small (hint: use length)

just think about those two questions and try to put them into code. Others have already given the answer (which they shouldn't have because you didn't request it), but still ask yourself these questions to improve your understanding of the situation.

answered Feb 12, 2014 at 6:31

BitNinja

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Comments

Kevin Ji · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-12 06:35:02Z

0

public void String getStr(int pos) {
    String str;

    if (pos >= 0 && pos < fruits.length)
    {
        return fruits[pos];
    }
    else
    {
       return null;
    }
} // METHOD

edited Feb 12, 2014 at 6:35

Kevin Ji

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answered Feb 12, 2014 at 6:29

iCodeCademy

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