java - How to add new elements to an array?

Question

I have the following code:

String[] where;
where.append(ContactsContract.Contacts.HAS_PHONE_NUMBER + "=1");
where.append(ContactsContract.Contacts.IN_VISIBLE_GROUP + "=1");

Those two appends are not compiling. How would that work correctly?

Answer 1

The size of an array can't be modified. If you want a bigger array you have to instantiate a new one.

A better solution would be to use an ArrayList which can grow as you need it. The method ArrayList.toArray( T[] a ) gives you back your array if you need it in this form.

List<String> where = new ArrayList<String>();
where.add( ContactsContract.Contacts.HAS_PHONE_NUMBER+"=1" );
where.add( ContactsContract.Contacts.IN_VISIBLE_GROUP+"=1" );

If you need to convert it to a simple array...

String[] simpleArray = new String[ where.size() ];
where.toArray( simpleArray );

But most things you do with an array you can do with this ArrayList, too:

// iterate over the array
for( String oneItem : where ) {
    ...
}

// get specific items
where.get( 1 );