I need to concatenate two String arrays in Java.
void f(String[] first, String[] second) {
String[] both = ???
}
Which is the easiest way to do this?
How can I concatenate two arrays in Java?
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66 Answers
I found a one-line solution from the good old Apache Commons Lang library.
ArrayUtils.addAll(T[], T...)
Code:
String[] both = ArrayUtils.addAll(first, second);
Here's a simple method that will concatenate two arrays and return the result:
public <T> T[] concatenate(T[] a, T[] b) {
int aLen = a.length;
int bLen = b.length;
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
T[] c = (T[]) Array.newInstance(a.getClass().getComponentType(), aLen + bLen);
System.arraycopy(a, 0, c, 0, aLen);
System.arraycopy(b, 0, c, aLen, bLen);
return c;
}
Note that it will not work with primitive data types, only with object types.
The following slightly more complicated version works with both object and primitive arrays. It does this by using T instead of T[] as the argument type.
It also makes it possible to concatenate arrays of two different types by picking the most general type as the component type of the result.
public static <T> T concatenate(T a, T b) {
if (!a.getClass().isArray() || !b.getClass().isArray()) {
throw new IllegalArgumentException();
}
Class<?> resCompType;
Class<?> aCompType = a.getClass().getComponentType();
Class<?> bCompType = b.getClass().getComponentType();
if (aCompType.isAssignableFrom(bCompType)) {
resCompType = aCompType;
} else if (bCompType.isAssignableFrom(aCompType)) {
resCompType = bCompType;
} else {
throw new IllegalArgumentException();
}
int aLen = Array.getLength(a);
int bLen = Array.getLength(b);
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
T result = (T) Array.newInstance(resCompType, aLen + bLen);
System.arraycopy(a, 0, result, 0, aLen);
System.arraycopy(b, 0, result, aLen, bLen);
return result;
}
Here is an example:
Assert.assertArrayEquals(new int[] { 1, 2, 3 }, concatenate(new int[] { 1, 2 }, new int[] { 3 }));
Assert.assertArrayEquals(new Number[] { 1, 2, 3f }, concatenate(new Integer[] { 1, 2 }, new Number[] { 3f }));
It's possible to write a fully generic version that can even be extended to concatenate any number of arrays. This versions require Java 6, as they use Arrays.copyOf()
Both versions avoid creating any intermediary List objects and use System.arraycopy() to ensure that copying large arrays is as fast as possible.
For two arrays it looks like this:
public static <T> T[] concat(T[] first, T[] second) {
T[] result = Arrays.copyOf(first, first.length + second.length);
System.arraycopy(second, 0, result, first.length, second.length);
return result;
}
And for a arbitrary number of arrays (>= 1) it looks like this:
public static <T> T[] concatAll(T[] first, T[]... rest) {
int totalLength = first.length;
for (T[] array : rest) {
totalLength += array.length;
}
T[] result = Arrays.copyOf(first, totalLength);
int offset = first.length;
for (T[] array : rest) {
System.arraycopy(array, 0, result, offset, array.length);
offset += array.length;
}
return result;
}
Using the Java API:
String[] f(String[] first, String[] second) {
List<String> both = new ArrayList<String>(first.length + second.length);
Collections.addAll(both, first);
Collections.addAll(both, second);
return both.toArray(new String[both.size()]);
}
I've recently fought problems with excessive memory rotation. If a and/or b are known to be commonly empty, here is another adaption of silvertab's code (generified too):
private static <T> T[] concatOrReturnSame(T[] a, T[] b) {
final int alen = a.length;
final int blen = b.length;
if (alen == 0) {
return b;
}
if (blen == 0) {
return a;
}
final T[] result = (T[]) java.lang.reflect.Array.
newInstance(a.getClass().getComponentType(), alen + blen);
System.arraycopy(a, 0, result, 0, alen);
System.arraycopy(b, 0, result, alen, blen);
return result;
}
Edit: A previous version of this post stated that array re-usage like this shall be clearly documented. As Maarten points out in the comments it would in general be better to just remove the if statements, thus voiding the need for having documentation. But then again, those if statements were the whole point of this particular optimization in the first place. I'll leave this answer here, but be wary!
The Functional Java library has an array wrapper class that equips arrays with handy methods like concatenation.
import static fj.data.Array.array;
...and then
Array<String> both = array(first).append(array(second));
To get the unwrapped array back out, call
String[] s = both.array();
Here's an adaptation of silvertab's solution, with generics retrofitted:
static <T> T[] concat(T[] a, T[] b) {
final int alen = a.length;
final int blen = b.length;
final T[] result = (T[]) java.lang.reflect.Array.
newInstance(a.getClass().getComponentType(), alen + blen);
System.arraycopy(a, 0, result, 0, alen);
System.arraycopy(b, 0, result, alen, blen);
return result;
}
NOTE: See Joachim's answer for a Java 6 solution. Not only does it eliminate the warning; it's also shorter, more efficient and easier to read!
Using Java 8+ streams you can write the following function:
private static String[] concatArrays(final String[]... arrays) {
return Arrays.stream(arrays)
.flatMap(Arrays::stream)
.toArray(String[]::new);
}
This should be one-liner.
public String [] concatenate (final String array1[], final String array2[])
{
return Stream.concat(Stream.of(array1), Stream.of(array2)).toArray(String[]::new);
}
This works, but you need to insert your own error checking.
public class StringConcatenate {
public static void main(String[] args){
// Create two arrays to concatenate and one array to hold both
String[] arr1 = new String[]{"s","t","r","i","n","g"};
String[] arr2 = new String[]{"s","t","r","i","n","g"};
String[] arrBoth = new String[arr1.length+arr2.length];
// Copy elements from first array into first part of new array
for(int i = 0; i < arr1.length; i++){
arrBoth[i] = arr1[i];
}
// Copy elements from second array into last part of new array
for(int j = arr1.length;j < arrBoth.length;j++){
arrBoth[j] = arr2[j-arr1.length];
}
// Print result
for(int k = 0; k < arrBoth.length; k++){
System.out.print(arrBoth[k]);
}
// Additional line to make your terminal look better at completion!
System.out.println();
}
}
It's probably not the most efficient, but it doesn't rely on anything other than Java's own API.
A generic static version that uses the high performing System.arraycopy without requiring a @SuppressWarnings annotation:
public static <T> T[] arrayConcat(T[] a, T[] b) {
T[] both = Arrays.copyOf(a, a.length + b.length);
System.arraycopy(b, 0, both, a.length, b.length);
return both;
}
A simple variation allowing the joining of more than one array:
public static String[] join(String[]...arrays) {
final List<String> output = new ArrayList<String>();
for(String[] array : arrays) {
output.addAll(Arrays.asList(array));
}
return output.toArray(new String[output.size()]);
}
public String[] concat(String[]... arrays)
{
int length = 0;
for (String[] array : arrays) {
length += array.length;
}
String[] result = new String[length];
int destPos = 0;
for (String[] array : arrays) {
System.arraycopy(array, 0, result, destPos, array.length);
destPos += array.length;
}
return result;
}
This is probably the only generic and type-safe way:
public class ArrayConcatenator<T> {
private final IntFunction<T[]> generator;
private ArrayConcatenator(IntFunction<T[]> generator) {
this.generator = generator;
}
public static <T> ArrayConcatenator<T> concat(IntFunction<T[]> generator) {
return new ArrayConcatenator<>(generator);
}
public T[] apply(T[] array1, T[] array2) {
T[] array = generator.apply(array1.length + array2.length);
System.arraycopy(array1, 0, array, 0, array1.length);
System.arraycopy(array2, 0, array, array1.length, array2.length);
return array;
}
}
And the usage is quite concise:
Integer[] array1 = { 1, 2, 3 };
Double[] array2 = { 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 };
Number[] array = concat(Number[]::new).apply(array1, array2);
(requires static import)
Invalid array types are rejected:
concat(String[]::new).apply(array1, array2); // error
concat(Integer[]::new).apply(array1, array2); // error
Using only Javas own API:
String[] join(String[]... arrays) {
// calculate size of target array
int size = 0;
for (String[] array : arrays) {
size += array.length;
}
// create list of appropriate size
java.util.List list = new java.util.ArrayList(size);
// add arrays
for (String[] array : arrays) {
list.addAll(java.util.Arrays.asList(array));
}
// create and return final array
return list.toArray(new String[size]);
}
Now, this code ist not the most efficient, but it relies only on standard java classes and is easy to understand. It works for any number of String[] (even zero arrays).
An easy, but inefficient, way to do this (generics not included):
ArrayList baseArray = new ArrayList(Arrays.asList(array1));
baseArray.addAll(Arrays.asList(array2));
String concatenated[] = (String []) baseArray.toArray(new String[baseArray.size()]);
A type independent variation (UPDATED - thanks to Volley for instantiating T):
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public static <T> T[] join(T[]...arrays) {
final List<T> output = new ArrayList<T>();
for(T[] array : arrays) {
output.addAll(Arrays.asList(array));
}
return output.toArray((T[])Array.newInstance(
arrays[0].getClass().getComponentType(), output.size()));
}
If you'd like to work with ArrayLists in the solution, you can try this:
public final String [] f(final String [] first, final String [] second) {
// Assuming non-null for brevity.
final ArrayList<String> resultList = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(first));
resultList.addAll(new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(second)));
return resultList.toArray(new String [resultList.size()]);
}
Another one based on SilverTab's suggestion, but made to support x number of arguments and not require Java 6. It is also not generic, but I'm sure it could be made generic.
private byte[] concat(byte[]... args)
{
int fulllength = 0;
for (byte[] arrItem : args)
{
fulllength += arrItem.length;
}
byte[] retArray = new byte[fulllength];
int start = 0;
for (byte[] arrItem : args)
{
System.arraycopy(arrItem, 0, retArray, start, arrItem.length);
start += arrItem.length;
}
return retArray;
}
Non Java 8 solution:
public static int[] combineArrays(int[] a, int[] b) {
int[] c = new int[a.length + b.length];
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {
c[i] = a[i];
}
for (int j = 0, k = a.length; j < b.length; j++, k++) {
c[k] = b[j];
}
return c;
}
/**
* With Java Streams
* @param first First Array
* @param second Second Array
* @return Merged Array
*/
String[] mergeArrayOfStrings(String[] first, String[] second) {
return Stream.concat(Arrays.stream(first), Arrays.stream(second)).toArray(String[]::new);
}
I tested below code and worked ok
Also I'm using library: org.apache.commons.lang.ArrayUtils
public void testConcatArrayString(){
String[] a = null;
String[] b = null;
String[] c = null;
a = new String[] {"1","2","3","4","5"};
b = new String[] {"A","B","C","D","E"};
c = (String[]) ArrayUtils.addAll(a, b);
if(c!=null){
for(int i=0; i<c.length; i++){
System.out.println("c[" + (i+1) + "] = " + c[i]);
}
}
}
Regards
Yet another answer for algorithm lovers:
public static String[] mergeArrays(String[] array1, String[] array2) {
int totalSize = array1.length + array2.length; // Get total size
String[] merged = new String[totalSize]; // Create new array
// Loop over the total size
for (int i = 0; i < totalSize; i++) {
if (i < array1.length) // If the current position is less than the length of the first array, take value from first array
merged[i] = array1[i]; // Position in first array is the current position
else // If current position is equal or greater than the first array, take value from second array.
merged[i] = array2[i - array1.length]; // Position in second array is current position minus length of first array.
}
return merged;
Usage:
String[] array1str = new String[]{"a", "b", "c", "d"};
String[] array2str = new String[]{"e", "f", "g", "h", "i"};
String[] listTotalstr = mergeArrays(array1str, array2str);
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(listTotalstr));
Result:
[a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i]
You can try this method which concatenates multiple arrays:
public static <T> T[] concatMultipleArrays(T[]... arrays)
{
int length = 0;
for (T[] array : arrays)
{
length += array.length;
}
T[] result = (T[]) Array.newInstance(arrays.getClass().getComponentType(), length) ;
length = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < arrays.length; i++)
{
System.arraycopy(arrays[i], 0, result, length, arrays[i].length);
length += arrays[i].length;
}
return result;
}
concatenates a series of arrays compact, fast and type-safe with lambda
@SafeVarargs
public static <T> T[] concat( T[]... arrays ) {
return( Stream.of( arrays ).reduce( ( arr1, arr2 ) -> {
T[] rslt = Arrays.copyOf( arr1, arr1.length + arr2.length );
System.arraycopy( arr2, 0, rslt, arr1.length, arr2.length );
return( rslt );
} ).orElse( null ) );
};
returns null when called without argument
eg. example with 3 arrays:
String[] a = new String[] { "a", "b", "c", "d" };
String[] b = new String[] { "e", "f", "g", "h" };
String[] c = new String[] { "i", "j", "k", "l" };
concat( a, b, c ); // [a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l]
"…probably the only generic and type-safe way" – adapted:
Number[] array1 = { 1, 2, 3 };
Number[] array2 = { 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 };
Number[] array = concat( array1, array2 ); // [1, 2, 3, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0]
Just wanted to add, you can use System.arraycopy too:
import static java.lang.System.out;
import static java.lang.System.arraycopy;
import java.lang.reflect.Array;
class Playground {
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public static <T>T[] combineArrays(T[] a1, T[] a2) {
T[] result = (T[]) Array.newInstance(a1.getClass().getComponentType(), a1.length+a2.length);
arraycopy(a1,0,result,0,a1.length);
arraycopy(a2,0,result,a1.length,a2.length);
return result;
}
public static void main(String[ ] args) {
String monthsString = "JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC";
String[] months = monthsString.split("(?<=\\G.{3})");
String daysString = "SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT";
String[] days = daysString.split("(?<=\\G.{3})");
for (String m : months) {
out.println(m);
}
out.println("===");
for (String d : days) {
out.println(d);
}
out.println("===");
String[] results = combineArrays(months, days);
for (String r : results) {
out.println(r);
}
out.println("===");
}
}
I use next method to concatenate any number of arrays of the same type using java 8:
public static <G> G[] concatenate(IntFunction<G[]> generator, G[] ... arrays) {
int len = arrays.length;
if (len == 0) {
return generator.apply(0);
} else if (len == 1) {
return arrays[0];
}
int pos = 0;
Stream<G> result = Stream.concat(Arrays.stream(arrays[pos]), Arrays.stream(arrays[++pos]));
while (pos < len - 1) {
result = Stream.concat(result, Arrays.stream(arrays[++pos]));
}
return result.toArray(generator);
}
usage:
concatenate(String[]::new, new String[]{"one"}, new String[]{"two"}, new String[]{"three"})
or
concatenate(Integer[]::new, new Integer[]{1}, new Integer[]{2}, new Integer[]{3})
I just discovered this question, sorry very late, and saw a lot of answers that were too far away, using certain libraries, using the feature of converting data from an array to a stream and back to an array and so on. But, we can just use a simple loop and the problem is done
public String[] concat(String[] firstArr,String[] secondArr){
//if both is empty just return
if(firstArr.length==0 && secondArr.length==0)return new String[0];
String[] res = new String[firstArr.length+secondArr.length];
int idxFromFirst=0;
//loop over firstArr, idxFromFirst will be used as starting offset for secondArr
for(int i=0;i<firstArr.length;i++){
res[i] = firstArr[i];
idxFromFirst++;
}
//loop over secondArr, with starting offset idxFromFirst (the offset track from first array)
for(int i=0;i<secondArr.length;i++){
res[idxFromFirst+i]=secondArr[i];
}
return res;
}
Thats it all, right? he didnt say he care about the order or anything. This should be the easiest way of it.
I have a simple method. You don't want to waste your time to research complex java functions or libraries. But the return type should be String.
String[] f(String[] first, String[] second) {
// Variable declaration part
int len1 = first.length;
int len2 = second.length;
int lenNew = len1 + len2;
String[] both = new String[len1+len2];
// For loop to fill the array "both"
for (int i=0 ; i<lenNew ; i++){
if (i<len1) {
both[i] = first[i];
} else {
both[i] = second[i-len1];
}
}
return both;
}
So simple...
Using Java Collections
Well, Java doesn't provide a helper method to concatenate arrays. However, since Java 5, the Collections utility class has introduced an addAll(Collection<? super T> c, T… elements) method.
We can create a List object, then call this method twice to add the two arrays to the list. Finally, we convert the resulting List back to an array:
static <T> T[] concatWithCollection(T[] array1, T[] array2) {
List<T> resultList = new ArrayList<>(array1.length + array2.length);
Collections.addAll(resultList, array1);
Collections.addAll(resultList, array2);
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
//the type cast is safe as the array1 has the type T[]
T[] resultArray = (T[]) Array.newInstance(array1.getClass().getComponentType(), 0);
return resultList.toArray(resultArray);
}
Test
@Test
public void givenTwoStringArrays_whenConcatWithList_thenGetExpectedResult() {
String[] result = ArrayConcatUtil.concatWithCollection(strArray1, strArray2);
assertThat(result).isEqualTo(expectedStringArray);
}
I see many generic answers with signatures such as public static T[] concat(T[] a, T[] b) {} but these only work on Object arrays, not on primitive arrays, as far as I can work out. The code below works both on Object and primitive arrays, making it more generic...
public static <T> T concat(T a, T b) {
//Handles both arrays of Objects and primitives! E.g., int[] out = concat(new int[]{6,7,8}, new int[]{9,10});
//You get a compile error if argument(s) not same type as output. (int[] in example above)
//You get a runtime error if output type is not an array, i.e., when you do something like: int out = concat(6,7);
if (a == null && b == null) return null;
if (a == null) return b;
if (b == null) return a;
final int aLen = Array.getLength(a);
final int bLen = Array.getLength(b);
if (aLen == 0) return b;
if (bLen == 0) return a;
//From here on we really need to concatenate!
Class componentType = a.getClass().getComponentType();
final T result = (T)Array.newInstance(componentType, aLen + bLen);
System.arraycopy(a, 0, result, 0, aLen);
System.arraycopy(b, 0, result, aLen, bLen);
return result;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
String[] out1 = concat(new String[]{"aap", "monkey"}, new String[]{"rat"});
int[] out2 = concat(new int[]{6,7,8}, new int[]{9,10});
}
Look at this elegant solution (if you need other type than char, change it):
private static void concatArrays(char[] destination, char[]... sources) {
int currPos = 0;
for (char[] source : sources) {
int length = source.length;
System.arraycopy(source, 0, destination, currPos, length);
currPos += length;
}
}
You can concatenate a every count of arrays.
Here is what worked for me:
String[] data=null;
String[] data2=null;
ArrayList<String> data1 = new ArrayList<String>();
for(int i=0; i<2;i++) {
data2 = input.readLine().split(",");
data1.addAll(Arrays.asList(data2));
data= data1.toArray(new String[data1.size()]);
}
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