(Java) How to loop through the content of an array?

Question

I'm very new to Java, and have been following step-by-step guides online. However, I was unable to run this chunk of codes though I followed exactly what was taught and I got compile time errors.

my code:

public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
    String[] family = {"Tricia", "ALbert", "Edwin"};
    for(String name = family) {
        System.out.println(name);
    }
  }
}

Hope could get some guidance here to show me where went wrong. I also notice I'm very bad with symbols and special characters.

I'd appreciate a lot for your help and precious time. Good day.

Please include code and errors in the **text** of your question. Don't post them as links and/or screenshots. — khelwood, Apr 04 '16 at 16:19
Possible duplicate of [Enhanced For Loop - Array of Objects](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9530699/enhanced-for-loop-array-of-objects) — david, Apr 04 '16 at 16:21
Possible duplicate of [Java for loop syntax: "for (T obj : objects)"](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7763131/java-for-loop-syntax-for-t-obj-objects) — Eray Balkanli, Apr 04 '16 at 16:32
Also, you can use `System.out.println(Arrays.toString(array))` to print the array. It is in the standard library. — ifly6, Apr 04 '16 at 22:53
Sorry, first time using Stack Overflow here. Will keep that in mind, @khelwood. — IceLemonTea, Apr 05 '16 at 14:18

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 04 '16 at 16:17

4

The proper syntax for this kind of for loop is

for(String name : family)

Instead of what you have

for(String name = family)

answered Apr 04 '16 at 16:17

NAMS

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7
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Thank you very much @NAMS, it works :) – IceLemonTea Apr 05 '16 at 14:16

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 04 '16 at 16:18

0

use the "enhanced for loop":

for(String name : family) {
     // do stuff with name
}

answered Apr 04 '16 at 16:18

Raphael Roth

26,751
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ΦXocę 웃 Пepeúpa ツ · Answer 3 · 2016-04-04T16:49:01.093

0

You have two possible ways:

1.-

for(String name : family) {
     // do stuff with name
}

2.-

final int len = family.length;
    for(int i=0; i<len; i++) {
         System.out.println(family[i]);  //where family[i] is the string at the give index
         // do stuff with name
    }

edited Apr 04 '16 at 16:49

answered Apr 04 '16 at 16:31

ΦXocę 웃 Пepeúpa ツ

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**3. -** Precalculate the array length so not to calculate it at each iteration: `int l = family.length; for ... < l ...` **4. -** Use the inverse loop (from l to 0; i--), because it's faster (it seems that subtracting is faster than adding) – Phantômaxx Apr 04 '16 at 16:44
1

That is a very good one!! Thanks!!! – ΦXocę 웃 Пepeúpa ツ Apr 04 '16 at 16:50

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 04 '16 at 16:46

Just use this.

for(int i =0; i < family.length; i++)
{
   System.out.println(family[i]);
}

This will loop through the array and what ever the value of i is, will be the index of the array that is printed.

IE: index [0] is "tricia", index[1] will be "Albert" and so on.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 05 '16 at 13:55

You can loop through the elements of an array in a couple of ways.

1. Standard for loop

for(int i = 0; i < family.length; i++){
  System.out.println(family[i]);
}

This is a standard for loop that iterates through each element of the array and prints each value.

2. Enhanced for loop

for(String value : family){
  System.out.println(value);
}

This is what you were trying to do in your sample, but you had = instead of :

Both work the same way to get the values of the array

(Java) How to loop through the content of an array?

5 Answers5