10.1 Array Types

An array type is written as the name of an element type followed by some number of empty pairs of square brackets []. The number of bracket pairs indicates the depth of array nesting. An array's length is not part of its type.

The element type of an array may be any type, whether primitive or reference. In particular:

• Arrays with an interface type as the component type are allowed. The elements of such an array may have as their value a null reference or instances of any class type that implements the interface.
• Arrays with an abstract class type as the component type are allowed. The elements of such an array may have as their value a null reference or instances of any subclass of the abstract class that is not itself abstract.

Array types are used in declarations and in cast expressions (§15.15).