Yes, of course. In fact, it can be simplified.
Linear search can be simplified if it does not have to
test each array entry for null.
Here is some code with search() partially finished:
class PhoneEntry
{
String name; // name of a person
String phone; // their phone number
. . . . .
}
class PhoneBook
{
PhoneEntry[] phoneBook;
PhoneBook() // constructor
{
phoneBook = new PhoneEntry[ 5 ] ;
. . . . . .
}
PhoneEntry search( String targetName )
{
// use linear search to find the targetName
for ( int j=0; j < phoneBook.__________; j++ )
{
if ( phoneBook[ j ].name.equals( ____________ ) )
return phoneBook[ j ];
}
return null;
}
}
Recall that search() returns
either a reference to the correct entry,
or null if the entry could not be found.