About array in Java

Why we use length() to calculate the length of a string,
but "length" to compute the length of an array?

Is the "length" attribute in an array a public instance
variable?

Thanks!

Originally posted by C Law:
...Is the "length" attribute in an array a public instance variable?

Yes. "The array's length is available as a final instance variable length." (Ref: JLS - Section 10.3.)
[ March 21, 2006: Message edited by: marc weber ]

Originally posted by C Law:
Why we use length() to calculate the length of a string,
but "length" to compute the length of an array?

Old naming conventions. We also use size() on java collections including arraylists so don't think the confusion stops at strings and typed arrays.
[ March 21, 2006: Message edited by: Scott Selikoff ]