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Thread: ArrayList Unexpected Return

  1. #1
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    Default ArrayList Unexpected Return

    I'm attempting to return all the values in the array list I created and don't seem to be successful.

    Here is my Student class.

    import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
                public class Student 
                {
                     public String sName = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Please enter a name.");
    	    }

    Here is my Main method.

    import java.util.*;
               public class Main 
               {
     
    	   public static void main(String[] args)
    	   {
    		ArrayList<Student> students = new ArrayList<Student>();
    		students.add(new Student());
    		System.out.println("The size of the array is " + students.size());
                    System.out.println(students);
     
    	  }
     
    }

    When run, I am prompted for the name and told the correct size of the array. However, the name is always outprinted as [Student@9fef6f], no matter what I type in. I always get the correct array size, even if I add more students, so I don't think I am storing them wrong, but I don't know.

    I have tried using the students.get(0);, but it still results in the same error. Perhaps the name I type in isn't even getting stored and only incrementing the array?


  2. #2
    Administrator copeg's Avatar
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    Default Re: ArrayList Unexpected Return

    When trying to print an Object using the method you are using
    System.out.println(object);//where object is something that extends Object

    the toString method is called. This by default returns : getClass().getName() + '@' + Integer.toHexString(hashCode())
    which is usually - as in this case - meaningless to a user. To overcome this, you could override this method in your Student class to return a string that is more meaningful. This won't help with printing the ArrayList directly, but will help you print each object that the ArrayList returns.

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