# How to add multiple values to array within class?
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294
**Category:** Beginners
**Created:** [March 6, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294 "2021-03-06T03:21:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tea\_tree](https://discourse.processing.org/u/tea_tree)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294/1 "2021-03-06T03:21:55Z")
I have the following array:
```auto
class Foo {
int[] myArray;
int val1;
int val2;
int val3;
int val4;
Foo(int val1, int val2, int val3, int val4) {
this.myArray = new int[4];
myArray = val1, val2, val3, val4;
}
}
```
But I get the error message “Syntax Error - Missing operator, semicolon, or ‘}’ near ‘,’?” How can I add values to my array? I read that the .append method is inefficient (and I’m using the array mostly for efficiency).
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2021, 3:36am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294/2 "2021-03-06T03:36:26Z")
```auto
void setup() {
println(new Foo(10, 20, 30, 40).myArray);
exit();
}
class Foo {
int[] myArray;
Foo(int val1, int val2, int val3, int val4) {
myArray = new int[] {
val1, val2, val3, val4
};
}
}
```
```auto
void setup() {
println(new Foo(10, 20, 30, 40).myArray);
exit();
}
class Foo {
int[] myArray;
Foo(int... vals) {
myArray = vals;
}
}
```
---
### Author:  [@tea\_tree](https://discourse.processing.org/u/tea_tree)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2021, 5:42am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294/3 "2021-03-06T05:42:20Z")
Are these two alterantive options @GoToLoop? Why can’t I specify the length of the array with `new int[4]`?
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294/4 "2021-03-06T06:05:49Z")
> [@tea\_tree](#):
>
> Are these two alternative options?
Yes. 1st example is your fixed code. While 2nd 1 is an alternative using variable arguments.
> [@tea\_tree](#):
>
> Why can’t I specify the length of the array with `new int[4]` ?
The statement `this.myArray = new int[4];` is correct.
However the following `myArray = val1, val2, val3, val4;` isn’t valid Java syntax!
Once a Java array is created we’d have to initialize each index 1 by 1:
```auto
Foo(int val1, int val2, int val3, int val4) {
myArray = new int[4];
myArray[0] = val1;
myArray[1] = val2;
myArray[2] = val3;
myArray[3] = val4;
}
```
Therefore my recommendation is to go w/ either of my 2 examples for a shorter code.
More about Java array creation & initialization:
> **[Arrays (The Java™ Tutorials \>
Learning the Java...](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/nutsandbolts/arrays.html)**
>
> This beginner Java tutorial describes fundamentals of programming in the Java programming language
---
### Author:  [@tea\_tree](https://discourse.processing.org/u/tea_tree)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-add-multiple-values-to-array-within-class/28294/5 "2021-03-08T14:07:44Z")
This works perfectly. Thanks 🙂