Java

Notes

Data types

8 primitive types in total

Integer numbers (1, 2, -5)
- byte 1B
- short 2B
- int 4B
- long 8B
Real numbers (1.2, 0.53)
- float 4B
- double 8B
char (‘a’, ‘x’) 4B
boolean (true, false) 1B (only 1 bit is actually used)

Below types are not primitive (are stored on heap instead of stack)

String, Arrays, Classes, Objects, Interfaces …

Variables

Syntax: <modifier> <type> <name> = <expression>;
Example: int x = 1;
Rules:
- Starts with a letter or underscore
- Does not contain punctuations
- Is not a keyword
- Is not more than 42 chars
Conventions:
- Use camelCase for variables and functions
- Use TitleCase for classes and interfaces
- Use ALL_CAPS for constants
use modifier final for constants

Operators

Arithmetic + - / * %
Logical && || !
Bitwise << >> & ~ = complement | = inclusive OR ^ = exclusive OR
Comparison == < > <= >= !=
Other Operators + ++ - -- = and so on.

some operators (like +) are overloaded depending on the operads and position

Printing

Normal string output to screen: System.out.print[ln]("...")
Formatted string: System.out.printf("%-,a.bx\n", args, args);
- % = format specifier
- - = left align
- , = Thousands separator for numbers
- a = spaces before
- .b = spaces after
- x = s(String)/d(Int)/f(Float)/c(Char)

User Input (Scanner Class)

import java.util.Scanner;

Scanner ip = new Scanner(System.in);

System.out.print("Enter something: ");
String something = ip.nextLine();
System.out.println("Something is " + something);

// <type> someVar = ip.next[Int | Float | Double | ...]();
// For next word use "next" (space terminates)
// For next line use "nextLine" (newline/enter terminates)
// Careful when using nextLine _after_ other next* as they leave newline in buffer

// VALIDATION
System.out.print("Enter an invalid int: ");
if (ip.hasNextInt()) {
  int x = ip.nextInt();
  System.out.println("it's a valid int: " + x);
} else {
  System.out.println("it's an invalid int: " + x);
}

input.close();

Type casting gotchas

integers => 7 / 3 = 2
real => 7.0 / 3 = 2.333…
Addition of precision results in implicit casting (like assigning an int value to a double var)
Loss of precision results in compiler error (like assigning a double value to an int var)
- Explicit casting is required to ignore errors: int x = (int) 1.0;
real variable for int expression => double x = 7 / 3 => x = 2.0
System.out.println(3 + 2 + 1 + "") => 6
System.out.println("" + 3 + 2 + 1) => 321

Conditionals (Branching | Selection)

if else

Syntax:

if (<expression>) {}
else if (<expression>) {}
else {}

Example:

int num = 9;

if (num % 2 == 0) System.out.println("Number is even.");
else System.out.println("Number is odd.");

switch case

Syntax:

switch (<expression>) {
  case <value1>: <stmts>; [break];
  case <value2>: <stmts>; [break];
  case <value3>: <stmts>; [break];
  default: <stmt>;
}

Example:

int num = 8;

switch (num % 2) {
  case 0: System.out.println("Num is even"); break;
  case 1: System.out.println("Num is odd"); break;
  default: System.out.println("Error!");
}

case falls through

Loops

for

Syntax:

for (<initialize>; <condition>; <increment>) {
    <stmts>
}

// OR

for (<type> <var_name> : <collection of type>) {
  <stmts>
}

Example:

int [] arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};

for (int x = 0; x < 5; x++) {
  System.out.println(arr[x]);
}

for (int x: arr)  System.out.println(x);

while (there is also “do-while”)

Syntax:

while(<expression>) {}

Example:

int x = 10;

while(x > 5) {
  System.out.println(x);
  x--;
}

can use break and continue to manipulate loops.

Strings

API Link
Strings are immutable character sequences saved on heap (not primitive values). Inside java.lang.String so automatically imported.
Some useful String methods:
- length()
- charAt(int i)
- indexOf(char c)
- substring(int start, int end)
- toUpperCase(), toLowerCase()
- contains(String subStr)
- endsWith(String subStr)
- startsWith(String subStr)
- matches(String regex)
- replace(String old, String new)
- split(String regex)
- strip() [evolved from trim(), unicode aware]
Note that while String s = "abc" is similar to String s = new String("abc"), it is not exactly the same because the former “literal” will first check in the String pool if "abc" already exists before creating a new one while the latter will create a new one irrespectively. The difference is explained by following code:
```
String s1 = "abc";
String s2 = "abc";

// s1 == s2 => true

String s3 = new String("abc");
String s4 = new String("abc");

// s3 == s4 => false
```

Arrays

API Link
Arrays are present in package java.util.Arrays


// Syntax

// <type> [] <var_name> = new <type>[<capacity>];

// Example

int [] array_of_five_ints = new int[5];

String [] arrayOf10String = new String[10];

MyObject [] arrayOfCustomObj = new MyObject[3];

// Example to create with pre-filled data

char [] vowels = { 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u' }; // => new Char[5];

Classes & Objects

/*

Syntax:

<modifier> class <class_name> extends <another_class> implements <interfaces> {

    // fields
    <modifier> <type> <var_name>;

    // constructor
    <modifier> <class_name>(<type> <var>) {
      <var_name> = <var>;
    }

    // methods
    <modifier> <type> <fn_name>(<params>) {
        ...
    }
}

modifier = public, private, protected, static etc

constructor is optional and can be overloaded like methods

*/

// Example Public Bike Class

public class Bike {

  static int numWheels = 2;
  int fuelTank = 12; // Ltr

  public Bike(int fuelTankInLtr) {
    fuelTank = fuelTankInLtr;
  }
}

// Creating a new Bike Object

Bike b = new Bike(18);

OOP Pillars

Encapsulation - Packing state/behaviour (data/methods) together
- Facilitates “data hiding”
Inheritance - State/Behaviour can be passed around to descendants
Polymorphism - Same name (object/method) means different thing depending on context
- Overloading: Same name, different parameters, same class
- Overriding: Same name, same parameters, different class
Above 3 are pillars, OOP also consists keywords like
- Abstraction: Define a skeleton (Abstract Class) or expose API (Interface) then implement later however.
  - Abstract Class - When classes (extends) are similar
  - Interface - When classes (implements) share some traits but are not similar