rx-java Operators repeat operator

Example

repeat operator allow to repeat whole sequence from source Observable.

Observable.just(1, 2, 3)
    .repeat()
    .subscribe(
        next -> System.out.println("next: " + next),
        error -> System.out.println("error: " + error),
        () -> System.out.println("complete")
    );

Output of the example above

next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
next: 1
next: 2
next: 3

This sequence repeats infinite number of times and never completes.

To repeat sequence finite number of times just pass integer as an argument to repeat operator.

Observable.just(1, 2, 3)
    // Repeat three times and complete
    .repeat(3)
    .subscribe(
        next -> System.out.println("next: " + next),
        error -> System.out.println("error: " + error),
        () -> System.out.println("complete")
    );

This example prints

next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
complete

It is very important to understand that repeat operator resubscribes to source Observable when source Observable sequence completes. Let's rewrite example above using Observable.create.

Observable.<Integer>create(subscriber -> {

    //Same as Observable.just(1, 2, 3) but with output message
    System.out.println("Subscribed");
    subscriber.onNext(1);
    subscriber.onNext(2);
    subscriber.onNext(3);
    subscriber.onCompleted();
})
        .repeat(3)
        .subscribe(
                next -> System.out.println("next: " + next),
                error -> System.out.println("error: " + error),
                () -> System.out.println("complete")
        );

This example prints

Subscribed
next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
Subscribed
next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
Subscribed
next: 1
next: 2
next: 3
complete

When using operator chaining it is important to know that repeat operator repeats whole sequence rather than preceding operator.

Observable.<Integer>create(subscriber -> {
    System.out.println("Subscribed");
    subscriber.onNext(1);
    subscriber.onNext(2);
    subscriber.onNext(3);
    subscriber.onCompleted();
})
        .map(value -> value * 2) //First chain operator
        .map(value -> "modified " + value) //Second chain operator
        .repeat(3)
        .subscribe(
                next -> System.out.println("next: " + next),
                error -> System.out.println("error: " + error),
                () -> System.out.println("complete")
        );

This example prints

Subscribed
next: modified 2
next: modified 4
next: modified 6
Subscribed
next: modified 2
next: modified 4
next: modified 6
Subscribed
next: modified 2
next: modified 4
next: modified 6
complete

This example shows that repeat operator repeats whole sequence resubscribing to Observable rather than repeating last map operator and it doesn't matter in which place in the sequence repeat operator used.

This sequence

Observable.<Integer>create(subscriber -> {
        //...
    })
    .map(value -> value * 2) //First chain operator
    .map(value -> "modified " + value) //Second chain operator
    .repeat(3)
    .subscribe(
        /*....*/
    );

is equal to this sequence

Observable.<Integer>create(subscriber -> {
        //...
    })
    .repeat(3)
    .map(value -> value * 2) //First chain operator
    .map(value -> "modified " + value) //Second chain operator
    .subscribe(
        /*....*/
    );