How Do I Initialize a Byte Array in Java?

Question

I have to store some constant values (UUIDs) in byte array form in java, and I'm wondering what the best way to initialize those static arrays would be. This is how I'm currently doing it, but I feel like there must be a better way.

private static final byte[] CDRIVES = new byte[] { (byte)0xe0, 0x4f, (byte)0xd0,
    0x20, (byte)0xea, 0x3a, 0x69, 0x10, (byte)0xa2, (byte)0xd8, 0x08, 0x00, 0x2b,
    0x30, 0x30, (byte)0x9d };
private static final byte[] CMYDOCS = new byte[] { (byte)0xba, (byte)0x8a, 0x0d,
    0x45, 0x25, (byte)0xad, (byte)0xd0, 0x11, (byte)0x98, (byte)0xa8, 0x08, 0x00,
    0x36, 0x1b, 0x11, 0x03 };
private static final byte[] IEFRAME = new byte[] { (byte)0x80, 0x53, 0x1c,
    (byte)0x87, (byte)0xa0, 0x42, 0x69, 0x10, (byte)0xa2, (byte)0xea, 0x08,
    0x00, 0x2b, 0x30, 0x30, (byte)0x9d };
...
and so on

Is there anything I could use that may be less efficient, but would look cleaner? for example:

private static final byte[] CDRIVES =
    new byte[] { "0xe04fd020ea3a6910a2d808002b30309d" };

Accepted Answer

You can use an utility function to convert from the familiar hexa string to a byte[]. When used to define a final static constant, the performance cost is irrelevant.

Must Read

Since Java 17

There's now java.util.HexFormat which lets you do

byte[] CDRIVES = HexFormat.of().parseHex("e04fd020ea3a6910a2d808002b30309d");

This utility class lets you specify a format which is handy if you find other formats easier to read or when you're copy-pasting from a reference source:

byte[] CDRIVES = HexFormat.ofDelimiter(":")
    .parseHex("e0:4f:d0:20:ea:3a:69:10:a2:d8:08:00:2b:30:30:9d");

How Do I Initialize a Byte Array in Java?

11 Answers

Must Read

Since Java 17

David Miller