Doubt between block and statement

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In that question, what would be the right answer?

How Many statements are there in the code Below? Warning: This is a Tricky one. The code is Valid.

{ println("Step 2");
  { println("Step 2a");
    { println("Step 2a.1");
  { }
    }   
  }
}

a.1
b.3
c.4
d.7
e.None of the above

I believe it is the C, because a block is a statement. However it can be D too. Which is the correct one?

java characteristic-language

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2 answers

2

Initially I answered generically and researching over there was documentation that implied that a block is not a statement.

Seeing the Java specification makes it clear that the right answer is D, there are 7 statements. There are 4 blocks that are considered statements by language and the 3 commands that have something printed.

In fact in Section 14.5 of the specification grammar shows that the block itself is a statement. Apart from that part it’s not so clear that it’s true.

Behold What are statements and operators?.

1

Based on the Java Language Specification 14.5 Statements and linked chapters - here only the important parts (IMHO):

Statement:
    StatementWithoutTrailingSubstatement

StatementWithoutTrailingSubstatement:
    Block
    ExpressionStatement

Block:
     { [BlockStatements] } 

BlockStatements:
    BlockStatement {BlockStatement} 

BlockStatement:
    Statement

ExpressionStatement:
    StatementExpression ;

StatementExpression:
    MethodInvocation

So the block, empty or not, counts as a Statement (by JLS) and obviously each println is also a Statement (MethodInvocation).

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