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Java Java Objects (Retired) Creating the MVP For Each Loop

Posted by caleb morton
caleb morton
Courses Plus Student 1,007 Points

I am having issues with the setup of this for loop.

I don't really understand what the for(char letter: mAnswer.toCharArray()){} is doing exactly. I know it is changing the string mAnswer to an array of chars but what is the char letter: actually doing?

ScrabblePlayer.java 
public class ScrabblePlayer {
  private String mHand;

  public ScrabblePlayer() {
    mHand = "";
  }

  public String getHand() {
   return mHand;
  }

  public void addTile(char tile) {
    // Adds the tile to the hand of the player
    mHand += tile;
  }

  public boolean hasTile(char tile) {
   return mHand.indexOf(tile) > -1;
  }

  public int getTileCount(char tile){
    int tileCount = 0;
    for(char letter: mHand.toCharArray()){
      if(letter
    }
  }
}

2 Answers

Manish Giri
Manish Giri
16,266 Points
Manish Giri
Manish Giri
16,266 Points

This is a "for each" loop. mHand.toCharArray() returns an array of characters. In the construct: for(char letter: mHand.toCharArray()), every letter in the character array is being assigned one-at-a-time to letter, so that you can perform some manipulation on the letter. In this case, you'll (probably) check if the current character , ie the value of 'letter' matches one of the letters in the to-guess word, and will increment the number of attempts if it doesn't match(as far as I remember).

So essentially, in a for-each loop, you iterate through the collection by stepping over every element in the collection one at a time.

caleb morton
PLUS
caleb morton
Courses Plus Student 1,007 Points
caleb morton
caleb morton
Courses Plus Student 1,007 Points

Ok I understand your explanation using arrays because they are essentially lists. What other reason would you use a "for each" loop besides looping through array values? To me that type of loop seems to have a specific use while the "while" and "do/while" loops are more general.

Is that correct? Sorry pretty new to coding anything besides super simple programs.