How to use ArrayUtils for array of objects, it doesn't delete the content of an array

Question

How to delete the content of an array of objects. If there is other ways to delete a content of an array of objects , please do share.

import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Scanner;

import org.apache.commons.lang3.ArrayUtils;

public class Testing {

  public static void deleteItem(ItemTracker[] listItems) {
    System.out.println("Which item you want to delete? ");
    for(int i=0; i < listItems.length; i++) {
            if(input.equalsIgnoreCase("Quantity")) {
                // Some Code
            } else if(input.equalsIgnoreCase("Something"){
                ArrayUtils.remove(listItems, i); //  This is the part where it should delete .. but it doesnt delete. 
            } 
            break;
        }
      }
    }

Answer 1

Change this

ArrayUtils.remove(listItems, i);

to

listItems = ArrayUtils.remove(listItems, i);

As you can see in the JavaDoc, the method does not change the argument listItems, rather it returns a new array with the remaining elements.

Edit

You also need to change your deletion method to

public static ItemTracker[] deleteItem(ItemTracker[] listItems) {
    //..
}

So you could return the new array with the remaining elements.

Answer 2

Store the resulting array.

It won't change the original array object.

listItems = ArrayUtils.remove(listItems, i);

Edit: But for using this method you need the change to return type of your method

public static ItemTracker[] deleteItem(ItemTracker[] listItems){
    System.out.println("Which item you want to delete? ");
    for(int i=0; i < listItems.length; i++) {
            if(input.equalsIgnoreCase("Quantity")) {
                // Some Code
            } else if(input.equalsIgnoreCase("Something"){
                listItems = ArrayUtils.remove(listItems, i); //  This is the part where it should delete .. but it doesnt delete. 
            } 
            break;
        }
      return listItems;
      }