Relation to Final Variables

Just like anything else, arrays can be stored in variables marked final.

This means that the variable cannot be reassigned, but it does not mean that the array's contents cannot be changed directly or through an alias.

void main() {
final char[] catchphrase = { 'w', 'o', 'a', 'h', '!' };
// woah!
IO.print(catchphrase[0]);
IO.print(catchphrase[1]);
IO.print(catchphrase[2]);
IO.print(catchphrase[3]);
IO.print(catchphrase[4]);
IO.println();

// Cannot reassign
// catchphrase = new char[] { 'e', 'g', 'a', 'd', 's' }
// but can set elements directly
catchphrase[0] = 'e';
catchphrase[1] = 'g';

// or through an alias
char[] alias = catchphrase;
alias[2] = 'a';
alias[3] = 'd';
alias[4] = 's';

// egads
IO.print(catchphrase[0]);
IO.print(catchphrase[1]);
IO.print(catchphrase[2]);
IO.print(catchphrase[3]);
IO.print(catchphrase[4]);
IO.println();
}