Can't add to an ArrayList “misplaced construct(s)”

Question

I have a simple arraylist set up, but I can\'t seem to add objects to it.

import java.util.ArrayList;


public class Inventory {

ArrayList inventory = new A         


        

Answer 1

In Java, you cannot have executable statements, such as invocations of the add method, outside a definition of a method or a constructor. Declarations are OK, but executable statements are not.

You can add these items to a named constructor, but you can also use an anonymous initialization block, like this:

public class Inventory {

    ArrayList inventory = new ArrayList();

    {   // An anonymous initialization block
        String item1 = "Sword";
        String item2 = "Potion";
        String item3 = "Shield";

        inventory.add(item1);
        inventory.add(item2);
        inventory.add(item3);
    }
}

If you use a block like that, it would be shared among all named constructors of the class, or it would become part of the implicitly generated constructor for the Inventory.