Using varargs(Variable -length argument) in Java

Sometimes you might want to write a method that takes a variable number of arguments. In Java, there is a feature called variable-length arguments, or varargs for short, which allows you to do this. Prior to JDK 5, variable-length arguments could be handled in two ways,

1. using overloading
2. using array argument.

syntax for varargs

public static String format(String pattern,
                                Object... arguments);

• The three periods after the final parameter's type indicate that the final argument may be passed as an array or as a sequence of arguments. 
• Varargs can be used only in the final argument position
• There can be only one variable argument in a method.
• Vararg Methods can also be overloaded but overloading may lead to ambiguity.

Example: 

public class Varargs {

 public static void main(String[] args) {
  printItems(1,2, "mango", "apple", "orange");
  
  printItems(2,1, "book", "pen", "pencil", "cheese");
 }
 
 public static void printItems(int a, int b, String... items) {
  System.out.println(" --------- Shopping items ----------\n");
  
  for(int i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
   System.out.println(items[i]);
  }
 }
}

Output :

 --------- Shopping items ----------

mango
apple
orange
 --------- Shopping items ----------

book
pen
pencil
cheese