I do not understand how keyword NEW in Java was used here

Question

I'm new to java, but my understanding is that the keyword new comes before a constructor. However, in this example from Oracle's Java Tutorial, this is not the case.

public static int numSuits = 4;
public static int numRanks = 13;
public static int numCards = numSuits * numRanks;

private Card[][] cards;

public Deck() {
    cards = new Card[numSuits][numRanks];
    for (int suit = Card.DIAMONDS; suit <= Card.SPADES; suit++) {
        for (int rank = Card.ACE; rank <= Card.KING; rank++) {
            cards[suit-1][rank-1] = new Card(rank, suit);
        }
    }
}

Card is class, and I do not understand what this line means:

cards = new Card[numSuits][numRanks];

Can someone please explain what this line of code means.

It is >>a<< way to initialize an array. There is another way that doesn't use the `new` keyword. Perhaps that is what is confusing I.D. — Stephen C, Oct 21 '15 at 03:11
@StephenC I rather doubt that someone who doesn't know Java arrays is being confused by the reflective instantiation option. — chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic-, Oct 21 '15 at 03:20
@StephenC Ah, I read "initialize" and thought "instantiate". — chrylis -cautiouslyoptimistic-, Oct 21 '15 at 04:40

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 21 '15 at 02:56

1

In this case, new Card[numSuits][numRanks] is instantiating a 2 dimensional array of cards, not the Card class itself. Instantiating the Card class comes later, inside of the 2 for loops as new Card(rank, suit);

answered Oct 21 '15 at 02:56

Alexa Y

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I do not understand how keyword NEW in Java was used here

1 Answers1