Array assignment and reference in Java

Question

public class Test {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
        int[] b = a;
        int[] c = {6, 7, 8};
        a = c;
         


        

Answer 1

Don't be irritated by the name 'list'. The images are taken from a python visualization, but the principle is the same in Java

Array a is assigned with a new array:

Array b is assigned to the instance behind a:

Array c is assigned with a new array:

And finally a is assigned to the instance behind c, b was not re-assigned and still keeps a reference to the old a:

Images taken from a visualization on pythontutor.com