Question

Example code:

int a[] = new int[]{0, 1, 2, 3}; int result = 0; for (int i : a)     result += i; 

Is the loop guaranteed to iterate across a[0], a[1], a[2], a[3] in that order? I strongly believe the answer is yes, but this page seems to not unambiguously state order.

Got a solid reference?

Answer 1

According to the JLS, The enhanced for statement, your for-loop is equivalent to

int[] array = a; for (int index = 0; index < a.length; index++) {     int i = array[index];     result += i; } 

‘where array and index are compiler-generated identifiers that are distinct from any other identifiers (compiler-generated or otherwise) that are in scope at the point where the enhanced for statement occurs.’ (slightly paraphrasing the variable names here).

So yes: the order is absolutely guaranteed.