ArrayOps Class

class ArrayOps
{                                        // the parameter x refers to the data
  public static int findMax( int[] x )   // this method is called with.                     
  {
    int max = x[0];

    for ( int index=0; index < x.length; index++ )

      if ( x[index]  )

        max = x[index] ;

    return max ;
  }
}

The program shows a partial definition of the ArrayOps class. The ArrayOps class contains a method findMax() that finds the maximum of an array.

The findMax() method is static, which means that it is part of the class, not part of any object. A static method can be invoked without needing an object. Look back to chapter 40 if you need to review this topic (which has not been used much until now.)

The parameter list is of the method is: int[] x

• This declares a formal parameter x which will be a reference to an array object.
• The caller is expected to supply a reference to an array as an actual parameter.
• The method is written using the parameter x to stand for the actual array it will work with.

The parameter x means "whatever data is supplied when the method is invoked." This may be different for different runs.