Objects and Classes

Object-Oriented Programming

Outline

Classes vs. objects

Designing a class
Methods and instance variables
Encapsulation & information hiding
Readings:
 HFJ: Ch. 2, 3, 4.

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Objects and Classes

Java program
public class Greeting {
public void greet() {
System.out.print("Hi there!");
}
}

public class TestGreeting {

public static void main(String[] args) {
Greeting gr = new Greeting();
gr.greet();
}
}

A Java program, at run-time, is a collection of objects. They

do things (their methods) and ask other objects to do things
(calling methods of others).
A Java program, when we write it, is a collection of classes
A Java library contains predefined classes that we can use in
our programs

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Classes vs. objects

A class is a blueprint/template that is used to

construct objects.
Each object is instantiated from a class. That object
is called an instance of the class.

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Objects and Classes

Designing a class

When you design a class, think about the objects

that will be created from that class
 things the object knows about itself
 things the object does

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Objects and Classes

Designing a class

things the object knows about itself

 instance variables
the object's instance variables represent its state

things the object can do

 methods
the object's methods represent its behavior

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Objects and Classes

Writing a class
1. Write the class
class Dog {

instance
variables
DOG

int size;
String breed;
String name;

a method

void bark() {
System.out.println("Ruff! Ruff!");
}

size
breed
name
bark()

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Objects and Classes

Writing a class
2. Write a tester (TestDrive) class
with code to test the Dog class

dot notation (.)

gives access to
an object's
instance
variables and
methods

public class DogTestDrive {

public static void main(String [] args) {
Dog d = new Dog();
make a Dog object
d.name = "Bruno";
d.bark();
set the name of the Dog
}
}
call its bark() method
Information hiding is not here yet.

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Objects and Classes

Writing a class
Instance variables/methods belong to an object.
Thus, when accessing them, you MUST specify
which object they belong to.
dot notation (.)
and
the object
reference

public class DogTestDrive {

public static void main(String [] args) {
Dog d = new Dog();
d.name = "Bruno";
d.bark();
access 'name' of the Dog
}
}
call its bark() method

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Objects and Classes

Object references
3 steps of object declaration, creation and assignment:
1. Declare a reference variable
Dog myDog = new Dog();
2. Create an object
Dog myDog = new Dog();
3. Link the object and the reference
Dog myDog

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new Dog();

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Object references
Dog myDog = new Dog();

Remember: References are not objects!

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Messaging between objects

Sending a message to an object is actually calling a

method of the object.
d.bark()
Syntax:
<object reference>.<method_name>(<arguments>)
recipient

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message content

Objects and Classes

extra information

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Methods How objects behave

Objects have
 state (instance variables)
 behavior (methods)
A method can use instance variables' value and
change the object's state.
A method can use instance variables so that objects
of the same type can behave differently

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

class Dog {

1. Write the class

int size;
String breed;
String name;

DOG
State affects behavior.
Dogs of different sizes
behave differently.

void bark() {
if (size > 14)
System.out.println("Ruff! Ruff!");
else
System.out.println("Yip! Yip!");
}

size
breed
name
bark()
getBigger()

method changes
state

void getBigger() {
size += 5;
}
}
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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

class DogTestDrive {

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {
Dog one = new Dog();
one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;
one.bark();
}
}

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {

name:null
size:0
breed:null

Dog one = new Dog();

one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

%> java DogTestDrive

one.bark();
}
}

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {

name:null
size: 7
breed:null

Dog one = new Dog();

one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

%> java DogTestDrive

one.bark();
}
}

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {
Dog one = new Dog();
one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

name:null
size: 7
breed:null
Dog object 2

two

name:null
size:13
breed:null

%> java DogTestDrive

one.bark();
}
}

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {
Dog one = new Dog();
one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

name:null
size: 7
breed:null
Dog object 2

two

name:null
size:13
breed:null

%> java DogTestDrive

Yip! Yip!

one.bark();
}
}

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {
Dog one = new Dog();
one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

name:null
size: 7
breed:null
Dog object 2

two

name:null
size:18
breed:null

%> java DogTestDrive

Yip! Yip!

one.bark();
}
}

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {
Dog one = new Dog();
one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

name:null
size: 7
breed:null
Dog object 2

two

name:null
size:18
breed:null

%> java DogTestDrive

Yip! Yip!

one.bark();
}

Ruff! Ruff!

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State affects behavior, behavior affects state

Dog object 1

class DogTestDrive {
one

1. Write the class

public static void main (String[] args) {
Dog one = new Dog();
one.size = 7;
Dog two = new Dog();
two.size = 13;
two.bark();
two.getBigger();
two.bark () ;

name:null
size: 7
breed:null
Dog object 2

two

name:null
size:18
breed:null

%> java DogTestDrive

Yip! Yip!

one.bark();
}

Ruff! Ruff!
Yip! Yip!

%>
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Compare
size, name

vs. bruno,

value

syntax?
scope?

class Dog {
int size;
String name;
...
void getBigger() {
size += 5;
}
}

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public class DogTestDrive {

public static void main(String [] arg
Dog bruno = new Dog();
bruno.name = "Bruno";
...
int value = bruno.size;
}
}
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Instance variables vs. local variables

Instance variables

belong to an object

declared inside a class but
NOT within a method

have default values (0, 0.0,
false, null)
class Dog {
int size;
String name;
...
void getBigger() {
size += 5;
}
}
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Local variables

belong to a method

declared within a method

MUST be initialized before
use
public class DogTestDrive {
public static void main(String []
Dog bruno = new Dog();
bruno.name = "Bruno";
...
int size = bruno.size;
}
}

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Encapsulation

Bad

class Person {
String name;
Date birthday;
String address;
// about his/her dog
String dogName;
String dogBreed;
int dogSize;

Better
class Dog {
int size;
String breed;
String name;
...
class Person {
}
String name;
Date birthday;
String address;

Dog petDog;
}

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Encapsulation / information hiding

class Dog {
int size;
String breed;
String name;
...
Dog d = }new Dog();
d.size = -1;

What is wrong with this code?

 It allows for
a supernatural dog
 Object's data is exposed.

Exposed instance variables can lead to invalid states of object

What to do about it?

 write set methods (setters) for instance variables
 hide the instance variables to force other code to use the
set methods instead of accessing them directly.

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Information hiding. Rule of thumb

Mark instance variables private.

Make getters and setters and mark them public.
class Dog {
private int size;

Don't forget to check

data validity in setters.

public void setSize(int s) {

if (s > 0) size = s;
}
public int getSize() {
return size;
}
...

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Class access control

Access modifiers:
 public : Accessible anywhere by anyone
 private : Only accessible within the current
class
 protected : Accessible only to the class itself
and to its subclasses or other classes in the same
package
 default (no keyword): accessible within the current
package

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Implementation vs. Interface

DogTestDrive: a client of Dog

Implementation
 Data structures and code that
implement the object features
(instant variables and methods)
 Usually more involved and may have
complex inner workings
 Clients dont need to know
Interface
 The controls exposed to the client by the implementation
 The knobs on the black box

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Encapsulation / information hiding

Dont expose internal data structures!

Objects hold data and code

 Neither is exposed to
the end user or "client" modules.
Interface vs. implementation
 A cat's look vs. its internal organs
 A TV's screen & buttons vs. the stuff inside the box
Complexity is hidden inside the object
 Make life easier for clients
 More modular approach

Implementation changes in one component doesnt affect others

Less error-prone

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