What is the best way to set empty array for properties in class Java?

Question

I have a class like:

public class TemplateFileResponse {
    private String path;
    private List<FileView> children;
}

I want to create an instance and set children is empty array. so what is the best way to do it?

An array is one thing e.g. `FileView[]`. A `List` is another different thing. — Michael, Jan 02 '20 at 17:16
See Oracle tutorial, https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/initial.html — Michael, Jan 02 '20 at 17:17
You can create like this private `List children = new ArrayList<>();` — PythonLearner, Jan 02 '20 at 17:18
TemplateFileResponse t = new TemplateFileResponse(); t.setChildren(new ArrayList<>()); — koding, Jan 02 '20 at 17:28

score -1 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 02 '20 at 17:32

-1

You can create an empty list with the new operator:

public class TemplateFileResponse {
    private String path;
    private List<FileView> children = new ArrayList<>();
}

You may also want to initialize the path field, either in a constructor or inline, because otherwise it will be initialized to null by default.

I suggest that you read a tutorial about Java classes, constructors, methods, and instantiating objects to understand how all of this works.

edited Jan 02 '20 at 17:32

Michael

answered Jan 02 '20 at 17:17

Code-Apprentice

@Michael I'm not confused. My wording is just poor and incomplete. Presumably inline intialization for `path` doesn't make any sense. – Code-Apprentice Jan 02 '20 at 17:22
@Michael Sure, the `path` field could be left uninitialized at all. But then there would be no point in having it. – Code-Apprentice Jan 02 '20 at 17:25
@Michael Feel free to write your own answer or make edit suggestions directly. – Code-Apprentice Jan 02 '20 at 17:31
Alright, I have – Michael Jan 02 '20 at 17:33

1 Answers1