array storage bytes of memory

[annie613]

I am not sure if I even really need to know this for programming java, but its bothering me not to know...

i know that an int stores 4 bytes of memory and a char stores 2 bytes...

is it the same for an array???
like if int a[100];
does mean we give 100 cells * 4 bytes of memory???

annie

[Darkwraith]

If it were C++, then yes, but it isn't exactly so with Java. There are some overhead components (for example, length) that are stored with the allocation.

At least to the best of my abilities, I believe this is the case...

[annie613]

bytes of memory reserved for int a[100]
is like a.length or a.length()

i am sure i should be focusing on more important concepts of the array but it was just one of those things that plays on your mind when you cant focus on what is really important

thanks

[Dillinger4]

Yes Darkwraith is right. There is some overhead when the VM allocates memory for certain types. I remember once reading somewhere that when a byte[] b array is declared(or anything smaller than int) the vm actually allocates multiples of four bytes for any array having length > 1 or if length == 1 then just four bytes are allocated.

[annie613]

http://www.javaspecialists.co.za/archive/Issue029.html
http://www.javaspecialists.co.za/archive/Issue078.html

thanks i also found these too cheers annie