class objects associated with arrays JLS - Section#10.6 (Array Initializers) array indices are non-negative integers (JLS 10.4) http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-10.html array overrides Java Language Specification Chapter*10.*Arrays It is not overloaded this JLS section §10.6 JLS 10.9 Section 10.4 Chapter*10.*Arrays JLS real documentation (the Java Language Specification) JLS 10.9 in the Java Language Specification JLS 10.9 JLS §10.3 array initialisers JLS 10.6 Array Initializers array lengths are fixed JLS Chapter*10.*Arrays JSL 10.7 JLS 10.7 the Java Language Specification http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-10.html class objects associated with arrays JLS JLS 10.9 Java Language Specification defined to have a fixed length "Java Language Specification" docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-10.html It is not overloaded It does have attributes §10.6 - Array Initializers Java Language specification "Java Language Specification" Chapter*10.*Arrays Array Initializer (§ 10.6) JLS JLS section 10.3 Java Language Specification 10.6 Chapter 10: Arrays JLS 10.9 JLS array initializer http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se7/html/jls-10.html array initializer how this works JLS 10.9