Question

In a method I created I am trying to create is meant to return an array of user inputted strings. The issue that I am having it the compiler is saying that userData may not be initialized at userData[i]=tempData; and at return userData;. I am unsure why this error is occuring, and would like some feedback.

public String[] getStringObj() {
    int i = 0;
    String tempData;
    String[] userData;
    Boolean exitLoop = false;
    System.out.println("Please list your values below, separating each item using the return key.  To exit the input process please type in ! as your item.");
    do {
        tempData = IO.readString();
        if (tempData.equals("!")) {
            exitLoop=true;
        } else {
            userData[i] = tempData;
            i++;
        }
    } while (exitLoop == false);
    return userData;
}

Answer 1

In the interests of improving code quality:

1. You don’t need that exitLoop flag; just do

   while(true) {
       String input = IO.readString();
       if(input.equals("!")) {
           break;
       }
       /* rest of code */
   }
   

2. Since you seem like you want to just add stuff to an array without bounds, use an ArrayList instead of an array (added bonus, this gets rid of i too):

   List<String> userData = new ArrayList<String>();
   ...
   userData.add(line);
   

If you do these two things, your code will be much more concise and easy to follow.