exercise

Hi there,

You need to create a method called getCountOfLetter that takes a char as a parameter and then returns an int. You've done this already - good work.

Next, you want to iterate through each character in the class member variable tiles. At each iteration you want to increment a counter variable (I called mine count which I declared an initialized in the method) if the char passed in as a parameter equals the current element of the array.

You've set up the for loop just fine. However, your loop character is called letter as is the parameter being passed in - you need to change that; let's follow Thomas' lead and call it l even if that lacks descriptiveness! Inside you can either check if your current character in the loop (l) is equal to the character passed in as a parameter to the method (letter) using an if statement, which is long handed. If the two equal, increment the count variable. The method returns an integer that represents the number of the parameter character are in the tiles string. So, If your string is "H E L L O" and you call getCountOfLetter('L'), you'll get a 2 returned; the number of Ls in the word HELLO.

So, compare your loop variable l with letter using double-equals. If they are equal, increment the counter - else, move along and do the next letter. Once you have finished looping, return the value of the counter.

That all looks like:

  public int getCountOfLetter(char letter){
    int count = 0;
    for(char l : tiles.toCharArray()){ // [edit - thanks Thomas!]
      if(l == letter){
        count++;
      }
    }
    return count;
  }

However, we've seen how to implement the ternary operator to replace the if statement, so you can use that instead. It isn't as clear at a quick glance but it is a way of reducing the (tiny) overhead of the if statement. Thomas showed you how to use : ? in his answer. Give that a go too!

I hope that helps - let me know how you get on.

Steve.