Fetching primitives
Although a ByteBuffer only holds bytes, it contains methods to produce each of the different types of primitive values from the bytes it contains. This example shows the insertion and extraction of various values using these methods:
//: c12:GetData.java
// Getting different representations from a ByteBuffer
import java.nio.*;
import com.bruceeckel.simpletest.*;
public class GetData {
private static Test monitor = new Test();
private static final int BSIZE = 1024;
public static void main(String[] args) {
ByteBuffer bb = ByteBuffer.allocate(BSIZE);
// Allocation automatically zeroes the ByteBuffer:
int i = 0;
while(i++ < bb.limit())
if(bb.get() != 0)
System.out.println("nonzero");
System.out.println("i = " + i);
bb.rewind();
// Store and read a char array:
bb.asCharBuffer().put("Howdy!");
char c;
while((c = bb.getChar()) != 0)
System.out.print(c + " ");
System.out.println();
bb.rewind();
// Store and read a short:
bb.asShortBuffer().put((short)471142);
System.out.println(bb.getShort());
bb.rewind();
// Store and read an int:
bb.asIntBuffer().put(99471142);
System.out.println(bb.getInt());
bb.rewind();
// Store and read a long:
bb.asLongBuffer().put(99471142);
System.out.println(bb.getLong());
bb.rewind();
// Store and read a float:
bb.asFloatBuffer().put(99471142);
System.out.println(bb.getFloat());
bb.rewind();
// Store and read a double:
bb.asDoubleBuffer().put(99471142);
System.out.println(bb.getDouble());
bb.rewind();
monitor.expect(new String[] {
"i = 1025",
"H o w d y ! ",
"12390", // Truncation changes the value
"99471142",
"99471142",
"9.9471144E7",
"9.9471142E7"
});
}
} ///:~
After a ByteBuffer is allocated, its values are checked to see whether buffer allocation automatically zeroes the contents—and it does. All 1,024 values are checked (up to the limit( ) of the buffer), and all are zero.
The easiest way to insert primitive values into a ByteBuffer is to get the appropriate “view” on that buffer using asCharBuffer( ), asShortBuffer( ), etc., and then to use that view’s put( ) method. You can see this is the process used for each of the primitive data types. The only one of these that is a little odd is the put( ) for the ShortBuffer, which requires a cast (note that the cast truncates and changes the resulting value). All the other view buffers do not require casting in their put( ) methods.
