Java : a beginner's guide

Print version:

Cover

About the Author

About the Technical Reviewer

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents at a Glance

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Java Fundamentals

The Origins of Java

How Java Relates to C and C++

How Java Relates to C#

Java's Contribution to the Internet

Java Applets

Security

Portability

Java's Magic: The Bytecode

The Java Buzzwords

Object-Oriented Programming

Encapsulation

Polymorphism

Inheritance

Obtaining the Java Development Kit

A First Simple Program

Entering the Program

Compiling the Program The First Sample Program Line by Line

Handling Syntax Errors

A Second Simple Program

Another Data Type

Try This 1-1: Converting Gallons to Liters

Two Control Statements

The if Statement

The for Loop

Create Blocks of Code

Semicolons and Positioning

Indentation Practices

Try This 1-2: Improving the Gallons-to-Liters Converter

The Java Keywords

Identifiers in Java

The Java Class Libraries

Chapter 1: Self Test

Chapter 2: Introducing Data Types and Operators

Why Data Types Are Important

Java's Primitive Types

Integers

Floating-Point Types Characters

The Boolean Type

Try This 2-1: How Far Away Is the Lightning?

Literals

Hexadecimal, Octal, and Binary Literals

Character Escape Sequences

String Literals

A Closer Look at Variables

Initializing a Variable

Dynamic Initialization

The Scope and Lifetime of Variables

Operators

Arithmetic Operators

Increment and Decrement

Relational and Logical Operators

Short-Circuit Logical Operators

The Assignment Operator

Shorthand Assignments

Type Conversion in Assignments

Casting Incompatible Types

Operator Precedence Try This 2-2: Display a Truth Table for the Logical Operators

Expressions

Type Conversion in Expressions

Spacing and Parentheses

Chapter 2: Self Test

Chapter 3: Program Control Statements

Input Characters from the Keyboard

The if Statement

Nested ifs

The if-else-if Ladder

The switch Statement

Nested switch Statements

Try This 3-1: Start Building a Java Help System

The for Loop

Some Variations on the for Loop

Missing Pieces

The Infinite Loop

Loops with No Body

Declaring Loop Control Variables Inside the for Loop

The Enhanced for Loop The while Loop

The do-while Loop

Try This 3-2: Improve the Java Help System

Use break to Exit a Loop

Use break as a Form of goto

Use continue

Try This 3-3: Finish the Java Help System

Nested Loops

Chapter 3: Self Test

Chapter 4: Introducing Classes, Objects, and Methods

Class Fundamentals

The General Form of a Class

Defining a Class

How Objects Are Created

Reference Variables and Assignment

Methods

Adding a Method to the Vehicle Class

Returning from a Method

Returning a Value

Using Parameters

Adding a Parameterized Method to Vehicle