Using Java's ArrayList lastIndexOf()

Question

To make things simple, I have an ArrayList called "items" (which stores a string the user inputs) and this bit of code:

int index = items.lastIndexOf("i am");
if (index >= 0)
System.out.println("yay");

When I test it out, if I type in "i am" at the beginning it outputs "yay" like it should. But, if I type in something like "yes i am" it doesn't output anything. Is there a way I can have it so "yay" is displayed if I type in something like "yes i am" or am I restricted to having it just at the beginning?

Here's how I setup the ArrayList:

List<String> items = Arrays.asList(user.split("\\s*,\\s*"));

Thanks.

Answer 1

It seems to me you are splitting the input string on a comma (in an awkward way too). Since yes I am doesn't contain a comma, your array will only have a single element: ["yes I am"]. Which means that lastIndexOf("i am") will not match. Hence you aren't seeing yay being printed out.

Now, to the matter of how to make this work.

1. Type in yes, i am
2. as someone suggested in the comment, match on the original input string with user.indexof("i am").

Basically, it's hard to recommend a solution because I don't know what your ultimate goal is.