Why can't I declare an ArrayList of char, I know the String class exist but it still seem weird I can't do the following piece of code
ArrayList<char> foo = new ArrayList<char>();
4 Answers
You cannot use primitive types as a generic type-parameter; you need to use the wrapper class for char, which is Character:
List<Character> characterList = new ArrayList<>(); //Java 7
or
List<Character> characterList = new ArrayList<Character>(); //Java 5,6
This goes for any class that accepts a generic type-parameter. So for example, if you had tried to use int, you would get the same error. Instead, you would have had to use Integer.
Comments
Collections do not allow the use of primitive types. You'd encounter this error had you tried any of the primitives, (int, long, double, etc..). Use a primitive wrapper such as Character, to declare the collection.
ArrayList<Character> foo = new ArrayList<Character>();
Comments
its Character not char
List<Character> foo = new ArrayList<Character>();
From starting letter you can easily makeout that char is not class
2 Comments
Patrick J Abare II
Not sure, mine got down voted to.. I'm wondering if someone is trying to boost their answer?
Vivin Paliath
@PatrickJAbareII I think so. My answer was downvoted as well. I've upvoted your answers.
Character.