TCP buffer

Question

I have a question about reading data from the Socket's InputStream
If I want to, for example, read an int in, can I do something like the following?
InputStream in = socket.getInputStream();
final byte[] integer = new byte[4];
if(in.read(integer))==-1)
//EOF
int value  = integer[0]<<24 | integer[1]<<16 | integer[2]<<8 | integer[3];The InputStream javadoc states that the read will "try" to read the length of the array into the array. I'm not exactly sure what that means. If I do this code example, am I guaranteed (as long as the EOF is not reached) for all 4 bytes to be read in. Or should I do something like the following example
InputStream in = socket.getInputStream();
final byte[] integer = new byte[4];
int temp1 = in.read(integer);
int temp2 = temp1;
// in.read only tries to read in the given length, nothing is guaranteed.  Read until all 4 bytes are
// read in.
while(temp2<4)
     if(temp1==-1)
          //EOF
     temp1 = in.read(integer, temp2, 4-temp2);
     temp2 += temp1;
int value  = integer[0]<<24 | integer[1]<<16 | integer[2]<<8 | integer[3];Thanks.
Edited by: iLL_LeaT on Mar 31, 2010 9:08 PM

Answer 1

The InputStream javadoc states that the read will "try" to read the length of the array into the array. I'm not exactly sure what that means.It means it will try.
If I do this code example, am I guaranteed (as long as the EOF is not reached) for all 4 bytes to be read in.No. It will try. It may not succeed.
Or should I do something like the following exampleNo. You should do either use DataInputStream.readFully() or write a correct loop. Yours is incorrect. The test for -1 should immediately follow the read. At the moment you're running the risk of adding -1 to the running count.
On the other hand you can throw it all away and use DataInputStream.readInt().