Java array of primitive data types

Question

Why next code works like it uses reference types rather than primitive types?

int[] a = new int[5];
int[] b = a;
a[0] = 1;
b[0] = 2;
a[1] = 1;
b[1] = 3;
System.out.println(a[0]);
System.out.println(b[0]);
System.out.println(a[1]);
System.out.println(b[1]);

And the output is: 2 2 3 3 rather than 1 2 1 3

Answer 1

The contents of the int array may not be references, but the int[] variables are. By setting b = a you're copying the reference and the two arrays are pointing to the same chunk of memory.

Answer 2

I describe what you are doing here:

1. creating an array of integers int[] a = new int[5];
2. creating a reference to created array int[] b = a;
3. adding integer to array "a", position 0
4. overwriting previously added integer, because b[0] is pointing to the same location as a[0]
5. adding integer to array "a", position 1
6. overwriting previously added integer again, because b[1] is pointing to the same location as a[1]