When I'm iterating over two arrays at once, which one do I use as the limit?

Question

I'm always struggling with something like the following Java example:

String breads[] = {"Brown", "White", "Sandwich"};
int count[] = new int[breads.length];
for (int i = 0; i < ****; i++)
{
   // Prompt the number of breads
}

****: which array.length should I choose?
I can choose between breads.length and count.length
I know it would be the same result, but I don't know which one I shoud choose.

There are many other examples where I get the same problem.
I'm sure that you have encountered this problem as well in the past.

What should you choose? Are there general agreements?

Thanks

Answer 1

I think I understand your question.

The answer is don't use arrays.

In this case use a map of:

Map<String, Integer> breadCount = new TreeMap<String, Integer>();

breadCount.put("Brown", 0);
breadCount.put("White", 0);
breadCount.put("Sandwich", 0);

Then there's only one "length", which is breadCount.size()

Example is in Java