# String Array in java

**URL:** <https://community.unix.com/t/string-array-in-java/271136>\
**Category:** Programming\
**Created:** [August 9, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/string-array-in-java/271136 "2010-08-09T22:56:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arizah](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/arizah/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@arizah](https://community.unix.com/u/arizah)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/string-array-in-java/271136/1 "2010-08-09T22:56:52Z")

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Hi ,

I wonder how I can set up an String array in java. I need the array so I can store different items per line so each item will be like one record. I tried something like :

String x[] = new String[10];

but when it comes to storing the data and retrieve the is when I struggle. The problem is I know that I can use x.length or other methods available to traverse the array but I believe I could be doing something wrong. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![durden\_tyler](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/durden_tyler/32/1450_2.png) [@durden\_tyler](https://community.unix.com/u/durden_tyler)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 11:42am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/string-array-in-java/271136/2 "2010-08-13T11:42:02Z")

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> [@arizah](#):
>
> ...  
> but when it comes to storing the data and retrieve the is when I struggle. The problem is I know that I can use x.length or other methods available to traverse the array but I believe I could be doing something wrong. ...

Well, once you've declared the String array, you could assign values to array elements individually. Or you could use a loop to do that.  
And after all array elements have been assigned their values, you could use a for loop to print them.

In the following Java program, I use both methods - individual assignment as well as assignment inside a loop.

Assignment inside a loop would typically be based on your business logic. Since my program is just a demo, I generated a random string of 20 characters inside a loop and assigned that to each String array element.

```plaintext
$
$
$ cat -n TestStringArray.java
     1 import java.util.Random;
     2 class TestStringArray {
     3 public static void main (String[] args) {
     4 String[] x = new String[9];
     5 // Now assign values to each array element
     6 x[0] = "The ";
     7 x[1] = "quick ";
     8 x[2] = "brown ";
     9 x[3] = "fox ";
    10 x[4] = "jumps ";
    11 x[5] = "over ";
    12 x[6] = "the ";
    13 x[7] = "lazy ";
    14 x[8] = "dog.";
    15 // and print them
    16 for (int i=0; i<x.length; i++){
    17 System.out.println("Element # "+i+" in string array x => "+x);
    18 }
    19 System.out.println();
    20 // =========================================================================
    21 // You could also assign values inside a loop
    22 Random rnd = new Random();
    23 char[] ch = new char[20];
    24 for (int i=0; i<9; i++) {
    25 // Create a string of 20 random characters
    26 for (int j=0; j<20; j++) {
    27 ch[j] = (char)(rnd.nextInt(94)+33);
    28 }
    29 // convert the character array element to a String and assign it
    30 x = new String(ch);
    31 }
    32 // Now loop through String array and print each element
    33 System.out.println("==========================================================\n");
    34 for (int i=0; i<x.length; i++){
    35 System.out.println("Element # "+i+" in string array x => "+x);
    36 }
    37 }
    38 }
$
$ javac TestStringArray.java
$
$ java TestStringArray
Element # 0 in string array x => The
Element # 1 in string array x => quick
Element # 2 in string array x => brown
Element # 3 in string array x => fox
Element # 4 in string array x => jumps
Element # 5 in string array x => over
Element # 6 in string array x => the
Element # 7 in string array x => lazy
Element # 8 in string array x => dog.
 
==========================================================
 
Element # 0 in string array x => dl2q>|C3HMj>7$MH]6=e
Element # 1 in string array x => &zw.P[NO/VH/0:[*Ti&i
Element # 2 in string array x => wu%2<S``Kx6r+4Qx%@g@
Element # 3 in string array x => \?:TG3bqDEza>oA{XjS2
Element # 4 in string array x => jl,s(#'9A!1g2fvCh*D3
Element # 5 in string array x => iZx=(c*{ihef4tX`/[z&
Element # 6 in string array x => p"\$DImMBRK9'4Of*8X3
Element # 7 in string array x => n'"]JCt@^lm;2N5A5dD1]n',
Element # 8 in string array x => \$n#03&):Z7B%lKaf{=%
$
$

```

HTH,  
tyler\_durden

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![arizah](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/arizah/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@arizah](https://community.unix.com/u/arizah)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/string-array-in-java/271136/3 "2010-08-16T06:09:13Z")

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Thanks Tyler really appreciate your good comments. Much appreciated.