Yusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsA java logic problem.
So in this part of the video we need to access a method from the Resources class.
So I thought you would have to initialize it first like this
Resources resources = new Resources;
and afterwards you have access to all the methods inside that class.
Instead in the video he just created and variable and had access to the variable directly like this
Resources resources = getResources();
Am I missing something?
2 Answers
Steven Parker
203,207 PointsThe resources you want to access already exist, so you don't want to create a new (empty) object here. The "getResources" method is inherited from the context class, and returns a reference to that existing resource object.
alastair cooper
28,181 Pointsresponse to: Why can't we do - String key = getResources().getString(R.string.key_name); - directly without setting the method to a variable?
You can do that.
The difference in required computing power is quite small
If you are using them a lot, it saves a bit of typing
see this discussion for more on this https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28446653/whats-more-efficient-storing-variable-references-vs-not-context-in-android
Yusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsThanks for extra "resources" ba dum Tss
Yusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsYusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsBut if we already have access to the method why are we is the method getResources() set to the variable resources?
Steven Parker
203,207 PointsSteven Parker
203,207 PointsYou have access to the "getResources" method by inheritance. When you use that method, you get access to the resources object.
Yusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsYusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsBut instead of doing
Why can't we do
String key = getResources().getString(R.string.key_name);directly without setting the method to a variable?
Steven Parker
203,207 PointsSteven Parker
203,207 PointsYou can do that. And if you are not going to need the resources for anything else later, that actually would be a good strategy to keep the code more compact.
Yusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsYusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsBut if I am going to need resources later why would it be a bad idea to do it my way?
Steven Parker
203,207 PointsSteven Parker
203,207 PointsIf you'll be using it more than once, then assigning a variable the first time saves you from needing to call "
getResources" again later. It's the "DRY" principle — "Don't Repeat Yourself".Happy coding!
Yusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsYusuf Mohamed
2,630 PointsNow I understand, thanks for the help.