Corrected a Java error but unable to get why it was wrong

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I had this java class code -

C#

public class game_setter {

    private String[] blocks = new String[3];

    blocks[0] = "a";
    blocks[1] = "b";
    blocks[2] = "c";

}

And the error highlighting was - Syntax error on token ";", { expected after this token

So I tried to correct the code.
The new code with no error is -

C#

public class game_setter {

    private String[] blocks = new String[3];

    {
    blocks[0] = "a";
    blocks[1] = "b";
    blocks[2] = "c";
    }

}

But I'm unable to understand why the error was there and how it got corrected by just adding brackets?

Posted 6-Oct-14 19:59pm

IAM_Dhruv

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TorstenH. · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-06T20:17:00

Solution 1

Your variable blocks is decleared as a class member.

After that you try to assign values to the member - that is not allowed in class body, only in method.

This is the correct way to handle that:

Java

public class game_setter { // class ALWAYS starts with capital letter! No underscores please!
 
    private String[] blocks = new String[3];
 

    public game_setter() {
        blocks[0] = "a";
        blocks[1] = "b";
        blocks[2] = "c";
    }
 
}

Posted 6-Oct-14 20:17pm

TorstenH.

Comments

IAM_Dhruv 7-Oct-14 2:22am

yes. I got it. I will keep this in mind. Thanks a lot.

IAM_Dhruv 7-Oct-14 2:24am

And I have also put up a return type to the method. Now its public void game_setter()

TorstenH. 7-Oct-14 3:32am

no, not on this, it's the constructor.
On other methods - yes. But not in this case.

IAM_Dhruv 7-Oct-14 6:46am

ok. yes yes. its the constructor. thanks.