Object Oriented Programming

Unit 2

Unit 2
Structure: 2.1 Introduction Objectives 2.2 Keywords 2.3 Working of Java 2.4 Including Comments 2.5 Data Types in Java Primitive Data Types Abstract / Derived Data Types 2.6 Variables in Java 2.7 Using Classes in Java 2.8 Declaring Methods in Java 2.9 Code to Display Test Value 2.10 The main() Method 2.11 Invoking a Method in Java 2.12 Saving, Compiling and Executing Java Programs 2.13 Summary 2.14 Terminal Questions 2.15 Answers

Java Basics

2.1 Introduction
In the last unit, we have discussed various features of Java. In this unit, we will discuss the basic programming structure in Java. Before that we all know that the English language has a vocabulary a set of words that have certain meaning. It also provides us with rules for using the vocabulary English grammar. The Java language also provides a vocabulary and a set of rules to use the vocabulary. The vocabulary is represented through a set of keywords and the grammar is the syntax of the language. This unit explains how to write object-oriented program using the Java language syntax. Objectives: After studying this unit, you should be able to: list the keywords significant to Java compiler explain the working of Java
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describe different data types in Java explain the variables and their naming in Java use classes and coding standards in Java discuss declaring methods in Java use code to display test value discuss the main methods with its rules describe invoking a method in Java save, compile and execute a Java program

2.2 Keywords
Keywords are special words that are of significance to the Java compiler. There are 48 reserved keywords currently defined in the Java language (see Table 2.1). These keywords combined with the syntax of the operators and separators, form the definition of the Java language. These keywords cannot be used as names for a variable, class, or method.
Table 2.1: Java Reserved Keywords abstract catch default final if interface private static this void boolean char do finally implements long protected strictfp throw volatile break class double float import native public super throws while byte const else for instanceof new return switch transient case continue extends goto int package short synchronized try

The keywords const and goto are reserved but not used. In addition to the keywords, Java reserves the following: true, false, and null. These are values defined by Java. You may not use these words for the names of variables, classes, and so on.

2.3 Working of Java

A compiler converts the Java program into an intermediate language representation called bytecode which is platform independent. A Java file
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will have the extension .java, similar to a word file having the extension .doc, a Pascal file having the extension .pas and a text file having the extension .txt. Let us assume that there exists a Java file named Hello.java. When this file is complied we get a file called as Hello.class. This class file is run using an interpreter as and when necessary. The Figure 2.1 shows the java program saved as Hello.java.

Figure 2.1: A Sample Java Program

The steps for compiling and running the program are shown in Figure 2.2. The program is stored in a subdirectory called java. When you run the above program, it prints the message Hello! How are you?

Figure 2.2: Compiling and Executing Sikkim Manipal University DDE Page No. 18

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The concept of write once, run anywhere is possible in Java. The Java program can be compiled on any platform having a Java compiler. The resulting bytecode can then be run on Window NT or Solaris or Macintosh or any other machine. The machine should have a Java platform to run Java code. Java platform consists of Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and a package of ready made software components. This package is known as Java Application Programming Interface (Java API). The compiled Java program can run on any hardware platform having Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed on it. Self Assessment Questions 1. A compiler converts the Java program into an intermediate language representation called ____________. 2. The concept of _________________ is possible in Java.

2.4 Including Comments

Comments can be included in a Java program as follows: Type 1 /* Comments go here More comments here */ Type 2 // This information is ignored by the compiler till the end of the line Type 3 /* Documentation comment */ In the first type comments can spread over multiple lines. In the second type the information written after // is ignored by the compiler. This is used for writing single line comments. The third type of comment is used by a tool called javadoc for automatic generation of documentation. Self Assessment Questions: 3. The third type of comment is used by a tool called ___________ for automatic generation of documentation.

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2.5 Data Types in Java

There are two kinds of data types in Java: Primitive / Standard data types. Abstract / Derived data types. 2.5.1 Primitive Data Types Primitive data types (also know as standard data types) are the data types that are built into the Java language. The Java compiler holds detailed instructions on each legal operation the data type supports. There are eight primitive data types in Java (see Table 2.2).
Table 2.2: Primitive / Standard Data Types Data Type byte short int long float double char boolean Size/Form at (bits) 8 16 32 64 32 64 16 1 Description Byte-length integer Short integer Integer Long integer Single precision floating point Double precision floating point A single character A boolean value Range -128 to 128 (signed) 0 to 255 (unsigned) -2 to 2 -2 to 2 -2 to 2
63 31 15 15 31 63

-1 -1 -1
39

+/- about 10 +/- about 10

317

Any single character true or false

The data types byte, short, int, long, float and double are numeric data types. The first four of these can hold only whole numbers whereas the last two (float and double) can hold decimal values like 5.05. All these data types can hold negative values. However, the keyword unsigned can be used to restrict the range of values to positive numbers. Amongst others, boolean can hold only the value true or false and char can hold only a single character. 2.5.2 Abstract / Derived Data Types Abstract data types are based on primitive data types and have more functionality than the primitive data types. For example, String is an abstract data type that can store alphabets, digits and other special
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characters like /, (); :$#. You cannot perform calculations on a variable of the String data type even if the data stored in it has digits. Self Assessment Questions 4. String is a ___________ data type in Java.

2.6 Variables in Java

When you learned algebraic equations in school, you used x and y to represent values in equations. Unlike pi which has a constant value of 3.14, the values of x and y are not constant in equations. Java provides constants and variables to store data in programs. Java allocates memory to each variable and constant you use in your program. As in algebra, the values of variables may change in a program, but the values of constants, as the name suggests, do not change. You must assign unique names to variables and constants. Variable names are used in a program in much the same way as they are in ordinary algebra. Each variable used in a program must be declared. That is to say, the program must contain a statement specifying precisely what kind of information (data type) the variable will contain. This applies to every variable used in the program, regardless of the type. Naming Variables A program refers to a variable using its name. Certain rules and conventions govern the naming of variables. You must adhere to rules. Conventions help improve the readability of the program, but following them is not mandatory. Rules for Naming Variables in Java A variable name: Must not be a keyword in Java. Must not begin with a digit. Must not contain embedded spaces. Can contain characters from various alphabets, like Japanese, Greek, and Cyrillic. Syntax for Defining Variables All the attributes of a class are defined as data members. The syntax used to declare a class variable is: <data_type> <variable_name>;
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As the brackets { } are used to mark the beginning and end of a class, a semicolon ; is used to mark the end of a statement. Self Assessment Questions: 5. Keywords can be used as a variable name. (True or False.)

2.7 Using Classes in Java

The data members and methods of a class are defined inside the class body. In Java, braces { } mark the beginning and end of a class or method. Any program that you write in Java can be written using a simple text editor. We will use Windows Notepad for writing programs. Example: class Employee { } Standard for Coding By following coding standards and conventions, you can write code that is easy to read and understand. One of the conventions is indentation. Notice that the code written below clearly indicates the data members defined in the class. Example: class Employee { String employeeName; String employeeAddress; }

2.8 Declaring Methods in Java

The syntax for declaring a method in Java is as follows: <access_specifier><return_type><method_name> ([argument_list]) { }

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access_specifier An access specifier defines where a method can be accessed. A public specifier allows the method to be executed from another class. A private provides access to methods for only the current class. return_type The return_type of a method is the data type of the value that is returned by the method. Example: public void displayEmpName(); // returns no value, therefore, the return // type of the method is void. public float calculateAllowance(); // returns a value of float data type // therefore, the return type of the method // is float Self Assessment Questions 6. A ____________ access specifier allows the method to be executed from another class.

2.9 Code to Display Test Value

The System class To communicate with the computer, a program needs to use certain system resources such as the display device and the keyboard. Java makes use of all these resources with the help of a class called System, which contains all the methods that are required to work with these resources. System is one of the most important and useful classes provided by Java. It provides a standard interface to common system resources like the display device and the keyboard. The out Object It is an object encapsulated inside the System class, and represents the standard output device. This object contains the println () method. The println () method The println () method displays the data on the screen.

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Example: System.out.println (Hello World); The above statement will display Hello World on the screen.

2.10 The main() Method

In a Java application, you may have many classes. Within those classes, you may have many methods. The method that you need to execute first should be the main() method. Syntax for the main() method: public static void main(String args[]) { } The main () method should exist in a class that is declared as public. Rules for the main () method: The primary name of the file in which the code is written, and the name of the class that has the main() method should be exactly the same. If you try to execute a Java application that does not have a main () method, the following error message will be printed: Exception in thread main Java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: main

2.11 Invoking a Method in Java

Creating an Object of a class The new operator is used to create a class object. Example: Employee emp = new Employee (); Invoking a Method To invoke a method, the method name must be followed by parentheses and a semicolon. One method of a class can invoke another method of the same class using the name of the method. Example: class Employee { String employeeName; String employeeAddress;
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public Employee() { employeeName=Bala; employeeAddress = Manipal; } public void display() { System.out.println (Name: +employeeName); System.out.println(Address: +employeeAddress); } public static void main(String args[]) { Employee emp =new Employee(); emp.display (); } } Self Assessment Questions 7. _____________ operator is used to create an object.

2.12 Saving, Compiling and Executing a Java Programs

The programs that you write in Java should be saved in a file, which has the following name format: <class_name>.java Compiling A program is a set of instructions. In order to execute a program, the operating system needs to understand the language. The only language an operating system understands is in terms of 0s and 1s i.e. the binary language. Programs written in language such as C and C++ are converted to binary code during the compilation process. However, that binary code can be understood only by the operating system for which the program is compiled. This makes the program or application as operating system dependent.

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In Java, the program is compiled into bytecode (.class file) that run on the Java Virtual Machine, which can interpret and run the program on any operating system. This makes Java programs platform-independent. At the command prompt, type javac <filename>.java to compile the Java program. Executing When the code is compiled and error-free, the program can be executed using the command: java <class filename> Self Assessment Questions 8. _____________ is the extension for Java source code files. 9. _____ command is used to compile the Java source code. 10. _____ command is used to execute the Java class file.

2.13 Summary
In this unit, you have learnt the following: Creating Classes Using Java The data members and methods of a class are defined inside the class body. In Java, brackets {} mark the beginning and end of a class or method. The class keyword is used to declare a class. Coding Methods of a Class Methods provide functionality to classes. In Java, methods are declared in the class body. Declaring Objects The new operator is used to create a class object. Displaying Data on Screen The System class is one of the most important and useful classes provided by Java. It provides a standard interface to common system resources like the display device and the keyboard. The println() method displays the data on the screen.

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Compiling a Java Program In Java, the program is compiled into bytecode (.class file) that runs on the Java Virtual Machine, which can interpret and run the program on any operating system. This makes Java programs platform-independent. Executing a Java Program When the code is compiled and error-free, the program can be executed by issuing the following command: java <class filename>

2.14 Terminal Questions

1. The candidate class for the employee referral process has the following attributes and behaviors:
Candidate candidateName candidateAddress candidateCourse displayDetails()

2. 3. 4. 5.

Create the candidate class with its attribute and methods. What do you mean by the statement : System.out.println( ); How do you compile a Java program? How do you execute a Java program?

2.15 Answers
Self Assessment Questions 1. bytecode 2. write once, run anywhere 3. javadoc 4. abstract / derived 5. false 6. public 7. new 8. java 9. Javac 10. java
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Terminal Questions 1. class Candidate { String candidateName; String candidateAddress; String candidateCourse; public Candidate() { candidateName=Arun; candidateAddress=Manipal; candidateCourse=BScIT; } public void displayDetails() { System.out.println(Name: +candidateName); System.out.println(Address: +candidateAddress); System.out.println(Course: +candidateCourse); } } (Refer section 2.11) 2. System.out.println( ); will print a blank line. detail.) (Refer section 2.9 for

3. Java programs are compiled using the command javac. (Refer section 2.12 for detail.) 4. Java class files are executed using the command java. (Refer section 2.12 for detail.)

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