Target Variable based on String in Java

Question

I need to allow the user to target a variable using a string name. Example,

int number = 5;

String variableTarget = "number";

I need to target the int, number, and then change its value in later code. Any way?

I cannot think of any way to do it. There seems to be alot of class targeting, but I already have that.

This sounds like an XY problem. What are you trying to achieve here? — GBlodgett, Apr 05 '19 at 13:35
What are you really trying to do? I doubt you need to do this — dustytrash, Apr 05 '19 at 13:35
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6729605/assigning-variables-with-dynamic-names-in-java ? — achAmháin, Apr 05 '19 at 13:36
Have you tested Reflection? https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/reflection-in-java/ — Ali Sohrabi, Apr 05 '19 at 13:41
You could try a `Map` of name to value, instead of a real variable. `Map variables = new HashMap<>(); variables.put("number", 5);` — DodgyCodeException, Apr 05 '19 at 13:43

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 05 '19 at 13:47

I don't think that there is a way to do this in java. But, to have such a functionality, you can use a map to assign the value to the number key in the Map :

HashMap <String, Integer> myMap = new HashMap<>();
myMap.put("number", 5);

and you can alter the value later using the same put statment :

myMap.put("number", myMap.get("number")+1);

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 05 '19 at 13:46

0

You can use Java Reflections, or create another structure like a HashMap answered by @DodgyCodeException

answered Apr 05 '19 at 13:46

Fragalli

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Target Variable based on String in Java

2 Answers2