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Java Java Objects (Retired) Creating the MVP For Each Loop

Michael Lee
Michael Lee
2,541 Points
Posted by Michael Lee
Michael Lee
2,541 Points

I was able to figure out how to return the tile count, but I am wondering if there is better way to do this?

I set a variable of "letter" to see if it will match the input for the getTileCount method.

Also, I am wondering about the repeated usage of 'tile' as a variable for the different methods. Every instance of 'tile' is distinguishable between the methods?

ScrabblePlayer.java 
public class ScrabblePlayer {
  private String mHand;

  public ScrabblePlayer() {
    mHand = "";
  }

  public String getHand() {
   return mHand;
  }

  public void addTile(char tile) {
    // Adds the tile to the hand of the player
    mHand += tile;
  }

  public boolean hasTile(char tile) {
   return mHand.indexOf(tile) > -1;
  }
  public int getTileCount(char tile){
    int count = 0;
    for (char letter : mHand.toCharArray()) {
      if(letter == tile) {
      count ++;
      }
    }
    return count;
  }
}

1 Answer

Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,532 Points
Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson
40,532 Points

Your solution is good, it's simple and clear like methods should be. And since you're dealing with characters in an arbitrary order there's nothing to really worry about with optimization.

As for the reuse of names for arguments or variables local to methods, you don't need to worry about. They are tied to the scope of that specific method and will only exist during the duration of a call to that method.

If you had a property with the same name however, the local variable will "shadow" the property. You can deal with the ambiguity using the this keyword. 

public class MyClass {
    private int sameName;

    public MyClass(int sameName) {
         // this.sameName refers to the property
         // sameName refers to the argument.
         this.sameName = sameName;
    }
}