How to initialize an array in Java?

If you’re just getting into Java and wondering how to initialize an array, you’re definitely not alone — it’s a common question for beginners. Java offers several ways to initialize arrays, depending on whether you know the values ahead of time or not.

Here are some common ways to initialize an array in Java:

1. Static Initialization (when values are known)

You can define and assign values to the array right away:

    int[] numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

2. Dynamic Initialization (when size is known but values aren't)

If you only know the size but will assign values later:

int[] numbers = new int[5]; // creates an array of size 5 with default values (0)

numbers[0] = 10;

numbers[1] = 20;

3. Using Loops to Populate Arrays


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for(int i = 0; i < numbers xss=removed>

Things to Remember:


• Arrays in Java are fixed in size. You can’t change their length once declared.

• Array indexes start from 0.

• Arrays can store primitive types or objects, like int[], String[], or even MyClass[].


In short, Java makes it pretty flexible to initialize arrays, whether you're dealing with numbers, strings, or custom objects.