Why do we have to use an intermediary variable for @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")?

Question

Good afternoon all,

I was wondering what's the reason that

public class test<T> {
    T[] backing_array;

    public void a(int initial_capacity) {
        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
        T[] backing_array = (T[]) new Object[initial_capacity];
        this.backing_array = backing_array;
    }
}

is valid but

public class test<T> {
    T[] backing_array;

    public void b(int initial_capacity) {
        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
        this.backing_array = (T[]) new Object[initial_capacity];
    }
}

is a syntax/compiler error?

What's the reason that we have to use an intermediary variable for @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") ?

Answer 1

the @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") is applied on the scope of the declaration and assignment right after it. It can be assigned to functions' scope, or a specific variable's assignment.
In your first example, it is applied on the local variable. In the 2nd example, you're trying to apply it on an assignment of a field that was already declared.

See that this also doesn't compile:

public class Test<T> {

    public void a(int initial_capacity) {
        T[] backing_array;
        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
        backing_array = (T[]) new Object[initial_capacity];
    }
}

and this has no effect on warnings:

public class Test<T> {

    public void a(int initial_capacity) {
        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
        T[] backing_array;
        backing_array = (T[]) new Object[initial_capacity];
    }
}

In short, SuppressWarnings cannot be applied on a variable's throughout its scope. It's applied on an assignment+decleration (for variables) or on the entire method's scope when applied on a method.

Answer 2

Because you can only annotate:

• classes
• methods
• variables
• parameters
• packages

You cannot annotate expressions or statements.