Extending an Array

Question

I have created a class of objects, with fields, constructors, methods, etc. So far, so good.
Now I would like to create an array of these objects, and I have some methods that I would like to create that would manipulate the objects in an array. Is it possible to create a class that extends array, and that is always an array of my object? (I'm not even sure how to ask my question properly)
Here's an example - given:
public class MyItem {
private String name;
private String description;
private String material;
public String getDescription() {
return description;
... (constructors & other methods omitted)
}// end of MyItem
I woudl like to create somethign like this
public class ArrayOfItem extends java.lang.Array {
public String getDescription (String theName) {
<code to find the MyItem in the array where MyItem.name = theName>
return MyItem.getDescription();
The thing is that this is dependent upon the array always containing MyItems; is this possible? Where could I find some examples of this? Or, am I better off just writing the methods I need into the program, rather than trying to create a new class?
Edited by: lkb3 on Feb 7, 2011 7:33 AM

Answer 1

Its more likely you want to extends ArrayList like
// works but not a good idea.
public class ArrayOfItem extends ArrayList<MyItem> {
}You are much better off wrapping the collection
// works but not very efficient.
public class ArrayOfItem extends  {
    final List<MyItem> myItems = new ArrayList<MyItem>();
}Assuming you have to lookup by name often you can wrap a Map instead.
public class ArrayOfItem extends  {
    final Map<String, MyItem> myItems = new LinekdHashMap<String, MyItem>();
    public void add(MyItem mi) [
        myItems.put(mi.getName(), mi);
    public String getDescription (String theName) {
        return myItems.get(theName).getDescription();
}Edited by: Peter Lawrey on Feb 7, 2011 3:57 PM