Java Language Keywords

abstract Java Keyword

The abstract keyword may modify a class or a method.
An abstract class can be extended (subclassed) but cannot be instantiated directly.
An abstract method is not implemented in the class in which it is declared, but must be
overridden in some
subclass.
Examples
public abstract class MyClass
{
}
public abstract String myMethod();
Remarks
A class with an abstract method is inherently abstract and must be declared abstract. An
abstract class cannot be instantiated.
A subclass of an abstract class can only be instantiated if it implements all of the abstract
methods of
its superclass. Such classes are called concrete classes to differentiate them from abstract
classes.
•
If a subclass of an abstract class does not implement all of the abstract methods of its
superclass, the
subclass is also abstract.
•
The abstract keyword cannot be applied to methods that are static, private or final, since
such methods
cannot be overridden and therefore cannot be implemented in subclasses.
•
No methods of a final class may be abstract since a final class cannot be subclassed.

boolean Java Keyword

boolean is a Java primitive type.
A boolean variable may take on one of the values true or false.
Examples
boolean valid = true;
if (valid)
{
<statement>
}
Remarks
A boolean variable may only take on the values true or false. A boolean may not be
converted to or
from any numeric type.
•
Expressions containing boolean operands can contain only boolean operands. •
The Boolean class is a wrapper class for the boolean primitive type.

break Java Keyword

The break keyword is used to prematurely exit a for, while, or do loop or to mark the end
of a case block in a
switch statement.
Examples
for (i=0; i<max; i++)
{
if (<loop finished early>)
{
break;
}
}
int type = <some value>;
switch (type)
{
case 1:
<statement>
break;
case 2:
<statement>
break;
default:
<statement>
}
Remarks
break always exits the innermost enclosing while, for, do or switch statement. •

byte Java Keyword

byte is a Java primitive type.
A byte can store an integer value in the range [−128, 127].
Examples
byte b = 124;
Remarks
The Byte class is a wrapper class for the byte primitive type. It defines MIN_VALUE and
MAX_VALUE constants representing the range of values for this type.

All integer literals in Java are 32−bit int values unless the value is followed by l or L as in
235L,
indicating the value should be interpreted as a long.

case Java Keyword

The case is used to label each branch in a switch statement.
Examples
int arg = <some value>;
switch (arg)
{
case 1:
<statements>
break;
case 2:
<statements>
break;
default:
<statements>
break;
}
Remarks
A case block does not have an implicit ending point. A break statement is typically used
at the end of
each case block to exit the switch statement.

Without a break statement, the flow of execution will flow into all following case and/or
default
blocks.

catch Java Keyword

The catch keyword is used to define exception handling blocks in try−catch or
try−catch−finally statements.
Examples
try
{
<block that may throw exceptions>
}
catch (<java.lang.Exception or subclass> e)
{
<code to handle exception e>
}
try
{
<block that may throw different exceptions>
}
catch (FooException e)
{
<code to handle FooException e>
}
catch (BarException e)
{
<code to handle BarException e>
}
try
{
<block that may throw exceptions>
}
catch (<java.lang.Exception or subclass> e)
{
<code to handle exception e>
}
finally
{
<statements that execute with or without exception>
}
Remarks
The opening and closing curly braces { and } are part of the syntax of the catch clause
and may not be
omitted even if the clause contains a single statement.

Every try block must have at least one catch or finally clause.
If a particular exception class is not handled by any catch clause, the exception
propagates up the call
stack to the next enclosing try block, recursively. If an exception is not caught by any
enclosing try
block, the Java interpretor will exit with an error message and stack trace.

char Java Keyword

char is a Java primitive type.
A char variable can store a single Unicode character.
Examples
char delimiter = ';';
Remarks
The following char constants are available:
\b − Backspace •
\f − Form feed •
\n − Newline •
\r − Carriage return •
\t − Horizontal tab •
\' − Single quote •
\" − Double quote •
\" − Backslash •
\xxx − The Latin−1 character with the encoding xxx. The \x and \xx forms are legal but
may
lead to confusion.
•
\uxxxx − The Unicode character with the hexadecimal encoding xxxx. •
•
The Character class includes useful static methods for dealing with char variables,
including isDigit(),
isLetter(), isWhitespace() and toUpperCase().
•
char values are unsigned. •

class Java Keyword

The class keyword is used to declare a new Java class, which is a collection of related
variables and/or
methods.
Classes are the basic building blocks of object−oriented programming. A class typically
represents some
real−world entity such as a geometric Shape or a Person. A class is a template for an
object. Every object is an
instance of a class.
To use a class, you instantiate an object of the class, typically with the new operator, then
call the classes
methods to access the features of the class.
Examples
public class Rectangle
{
float width;
float height;
public Rectangle(float w, float h)
{
width = w;
height = h;
}
public float getWidth()
{
return width;
}
public float getHeight()
{
return height;
}
}
Remarks
None.
continue Java Keyword
The continue keyword is used to skip to the next iteration of a for, while, or do loop.
Examples
for (i=0; i<max; i++)
{
<statements>
if (<done with this iteration>)
{
continue;
}
<statements>
}
Remarks
continue always skips to the next iteration of the innermost enclosing while, for or do
statement. •
default Java Keyword
The default keyword is used to label the default branch in a switch statement.
Examples
int arg = <some value>;
switch (arg)
{
case 1:
<statements>
break;
case 2:
<statements>
break;
default:
<statements>
break;
}
Remarks
A default block does not have an implicit ending point. A break statement is typically
used at the end
of each case or default block to exit the switch statement upon completion of the block.
•
Without a default statement, a switch statement whose argument matches no case blocks
will do
nothing.
•

do Java Keyword
The do keyword specifies a loop whose condition is checked at the end of each iteration.
Examples
do
{
<statements>
}
while (!found);
Remarks
The body of a do loop is always executed at least once. •
The semicolon after the condition expression is always required. •

double Java Keyword

double is a Java primitive type.
A double variable may store a double−precision floating point value.
Examples
double ratio = .01;
double diameter = 6.15;
double height = 1.35E03; // 1.35 * 103 or 1350.0
double height = 1e−2; // 1.0 * 10−2 or 0.01
Remarks
Since floating point data types are approximations of real numbers, you should generally
never
compare floating point numbers for equality.

Java floating point numbers can represent infinity and NaN (not a number). The Double
wrapper class
defines the constants MIN_VALUE, MAX_VALUE, NEGATIVE_INFINITY,
POSITIVE_INFINITY and NaN.
else Java Keyword
The else keyword is always used in association with the if keyword in an if−else
statement. The else clause is
optional and is executed if the if condition is false.
Examples
if (condition)
{
<statements>
}
else
{
<statements>
}
Remarks
None.

extends Java Keyword

The extends keyword is used in a class or interface declaration to indicate that the class or
interface being
declared is a subclass of the class or interface whose name follows the extends keyword.
Examples
public class Rectangle extends Polygon
{
}
Remarks
In the example above, the Rectangle class inherits all of the public and protected
variables and
methods of the Polygon class.
•
The Rectangle class may override any non−final method of the Polygon class. •
A class may only extend one other class. •

false Java Keyword

The false keyword represents one of the two legal values for a boolean variable.
Examples
boolean isComplete = false;
Remarks
None.

final Java Keyword

The final keyword may be applied to a class, indicating the class may not be extended
(subclassed).
The final keyword may be applied to a method, indicating the method may not be
overridden in any subclass.
Examples
public final class MyFinalClass
{
}
public class MyClass
{
public final String myFinalMethod()
{
<statements>
}
}
Remarks
A class may never be both abstract and final. abstract means the class must be extended,
while final
means it cannot be.
•
A method may never be both abstract and final. abstract means the method must be
overridden, while
final means it cannot be.
•
finally Java Keyword
The finally keyword is used to define a block that is always executed in a
try−catch−finally statement.
A finally block typically contains cleanup code that recovers from partial execution of a
try block.
Examples
try
{
<block that may throw exceptions>
}
catch (<java.lang.Exception or subclass> e)
{
<code to handle exception e>
}
finally
{
<statements that execute with or without exception>
}
Remarks
The opening and closing curly braces { and } are part of the syntax of the finally clause
and may not
be omitted even if the clause contains a single statement.
•
Every try block must have at least one catch or finally clause. •
If any portion of the try block is executed, the code in a finally block is always
guaranteed to be
executed whether an exception occurs or not and independent of whether the try or catch
blocks
contain return, continue or break statements.
•
In the absence of exceptions, control flows through the try block and then into the finally
block. •
If an exception occurs during execution of the try block and the appropriate catch block
contains a
break, continue or return statement, control flows through the finally block before the
break, continue
or return occurs.
•
float Java Keyword
float is a Java primitive type.
A float variable may store a single−precision floating point value.
Examples
float ratio = .01;
float diameter = 6.15;
float height = 1.35E03; // 1.35 * 103 or 1350.0
float height = 1e−2; // 1.0 * 10−2 or 0.01
Remarks
The following rules apply to this keyword's use:
Floating point literals in Java always default to double−precision. To specify a
single−precision literal
value, follow the number with f or F, as in 0.01f.
•
Since floating point data types are approximations of real numbers, you should generally
never
compare floating point numbers for equality.
•
Java floating point numbers can represent infinity and NaN (not a number). The Float
wrapper class
defines the constants MIN_VALUE, MAX_VALUE, NEGATIVE_INFINITY,
POSITIVE_INFINITY and NaN.
•
for Java Keyword
The for keyword specifies a loop whose condition is checked before each iteration.
Examples
int i;
for (i=0; i<max; i++)
{
<statements>
}
Remarks
The for statement takes the form for(initialize; condition; increment)
The initialize statement is executed once as the flow of control enters the for statement.
The condition is evaluated before each execution of the body of the loop. The body of the
loop is
executed if the condition is true.
The increment statement is executed after each execution of the body of the loop, before
the condition
is evaluated for the next iteration.
•
if Java Keyword
The if keyword indicates conditional execution of a block. The condition must evaluate to
a boolean value.
Examples
if (condition)
{
<statements>
}
if (condition)
{
<statements>
}
else
{
<statements>
}
Remarks
An if statement may have an optional else clause containing code that is executed if the
condition is
false.
•
Expressions containing boolean operands can contain only boolean operands. •

implements Java Keyword

The implements keyword is used in a class declaration to indicate that the class being
declared provides
implementations for all methods declared in the interface whose name follows the
implements keyword.
Examples
public class Truck implements IVehicle
{
}
Remarks
In the example above, the Truck class must provide implementations for all methods
declared in the
IVehicle interface.
•
The Truck class is otherwise independent; it may declare additional methods and
variables and may
extend another class.
•
A single class may implement multiple interfaces. •

import Java Keyword

The import keyword makes one class or all classes in a package visible in the current
Java source file.
Imported classes can be referened without the use of fully−qualified class names.
Examples
import java.io.File;
import java.net.*;
Remarks
Many Java programmers use only specific import statements (no '*') to avoid ambiguity
when
multiple packages contain classes of the same name.
•

instanceof Java Keyword

The instanceof keyword is used to determine the class of an object.
Examples
if (node instanceof TreeNode)
{
<statements>
}
Remarks
In the example above, if node is an instance of the TreeNode class or is an instance of a
subclass of
TreeNode, the instanceof expression evaluates to true.
•

int Java Keyword

int is a Java primitive type.
A int variable may store a 32−bit integer value.
Examples
int number = 5;
int octalNumber = 0377;
int hexNumber = 0xff;
Remarks
The Integer class is a wrapper class for the int primitive type. It defines MIN_VALUE
and
MAX_VALUE constants representing the range of values for this type.
•
All integer literals in Java are 32−bit int values unless the value is followed by l or L as in
235L,
indicating the value should be interpreted as a long.
•

interface Java Keyword

The interface keyword is used to declare a new Java interface, which is a collection of
methods.
Interfaces are a powerful feature of the Java language. Any class may declare that it
implements one or more
interfaces, meaining it implements all of the methods defined in those interfaces.
Examples
public interface IPolygon
{
public float getArea();
public int getNumberOfSides();
public int getCircumference();
}
Remarks
Any class that implements an interface must provide implementations for all methods in
that interface. •
A single class may implement multiple interfaces. •
long Java Keyword
long is a Java primitive type.
A long variable may store a 64−bit signed integer.
Examples
long number = 5;
long anotherNumber = 34590L;
long octalNumber = 0377;
long hexNumber = 0xffl;
Remarks
The Long class is a wrapper class for the long primitive type. It defines MIN_VALUE
and
MAX_VALUE constants representing the range of values for this type.
•
All integer literals in Java are 32−bit int values unless the value is followed by l or L as in
235L,
indicating the value should be interpreted as a long.
•

native Java Keyword

The native keyword may be applied to a method to indicate that the method is
implemented in a language other then Java.
Examples
native String getProcessorType();
Remarks
Native methods are beyond the scope of this documentation. •

new Java Keyword

The new keyword is used to create a new instance of a class.
Examples
String sName = new String();
Float fVal = new Float(0.15);
Remarks
The argument following the new keyword must be a class name followed by a series of
constructor
arguments in required parentheses.
• The collection of arguments must match the signature of a constructor for the class.
The type of the variable on the left side of the = must be assignment−compatible with the
class or
interface being instantiated.

null Java Keyword

null is a Java reserved word representing no value.
Examples
Integer i;
i = null;
String s;
if (s != null)
{
<statements>
}
Remarks
Assigning null to a non−primitive variable has the effect of releasing the object to which
the variable
previously referred.
•
null cannot be assigned to variables of primitive types (byte, short, int, long, char, float,
double,
boolean)

package Java Keyword

The package keyword specifies the Java package in which the classes declared in a Java
source file reside.
Examples
package com.mycompany;
public class MyClass
{
}
Remarks
The package statement, if present, must be the first non−comment text in a Java source
file. •
In the example above, the fully−qualified class name of the MyClass class is
com.mycompany.MyClass.
•
If a Java source file does not contain a package statement, the classes defined in the file
are in the
default package. Note that classes in the default package may not be referenced from
classes in
non−default packages.

private Java Keyword

The private keyword is an access control modifier that may be applied to a class, a
method or a field (a
variable declared in a class).
Examples
public class MyPublicClass
{
private class MyPrivateClass
{
}
private int i;
private String myMethod()
{
<statements>
}
}
Remarks
A private (inner) class, method or field may only be referenced from within the class in
which it is
declared. It is not visible outside the class or to subclasses.
•
The default access for all class members is package access, meaning that unless a
specific access
control modifier is present the class members are accessible from within any class in the
same
package.

protected Java Keyword

The protected keyword is an access control modifier that may be applied to a class, a
method or a field (a
variable declared in a class).
Examples
public class MyPublicClass
{
protected class MyPrivateClass
{
}
protected int i;
protected String myMethod()
{
<statements>
}
}
Remarks
A protected class, method or field may be referenced from within the class in which it is
declared, any
other classes in the same package, and any subclasses regardless of the package in which
a subclass is
declared.
•
The default access for all class members is package access, meaning that unless a
specific access
control modifier is present the class members are accessible from within any class in the
same
package.
public Java Keyword
The public keyword is an access control modifier that may be applied to a class, a
method or a field (a
variable declared in a class).
Examples
public class MyPublicClass
{
public class MyPrivateClass
{
}
public int i;
public String myMethod()
{
<statements>
}
}
Remarks
A public class, method or field may only be referenced from any other class or package.
•
The default access for all class members is package access, meaning that unless a
specific access
control modifier is present the class members are accessible from within any class in the
same
package.

return Java Keyword

The return keyword causes a method to return to the method that called it, passing a value
that matches the
return type of the returning method.
Examples
public void myVoidMethod()
{
<statements>
return;
}
public String myStringMethod()
{
String s = "my response";
return s;
}
public int myIntMethod()
{
int i = 5;
return(i);
}
Remarks
If the method has a non−void return type, the return statement must have an argument of
the same or
a compatible type.
•
The parentheses surrounding the return value are optional.

short Java Keyword

short is a Java primitive type.
A short variable may store a 16−bit signed integer.
Examples
short number = 5;
short octalNumber = 0077;
short hexNumber = 0xff;
Remarks
The Short class is a wrapper class for the short primitive type. It defines MIN_VALUE
and
MAX_VALUE constants representing the range of values for this type.
•
All integer literals in Java are 32−bit int values unless the value is followed by l or L as in
235L,
indicating the value should be interpreted as a long.

static Java Keyword

The static keyword may be applied to an inner class (a class defined within another
class), method or field (a
member variable of a class).
Examples
public class MyPublicClass
{
public final static int MAX_OBJECTS = 100;
static int _numObjects = 0;
static class MyStaticClass
{
}
static int getNumObjects()
{
}
}
Remarks
In general, the static keyword means that the entity to which it is applied is available
outside any particular
instance of the class in which the entity is declared.
•
A static (inner) class may be instantiated and reference by other classes as though it were
a top−level class.
In the example above, code in another class could instantiate the MyStaticClass class by
qualifiying it's
name with the containing class name, as MyClass.MyStaticClass.
•
A static field (member variable of a class) exists once across all instances of the class. •
A static method may be called from outside the class without first instantiating the class.
Such a reference
always includes the class name as a qualifier of the method call. In the example above
code outside the
MyClass class would invoke the getNumObjects() static method as
MyClass.getNumObjects().
•
The pattern:
public final static <type> varName = <value>;
is commonly used to declare class constants that may be used from outside the class. A
reference to such a
constant is qualified with the class name. In the example above, another class could
reference the
MAX_OBJECTS constant as MyClass.MAX_OBJECTS.

super Java Keyword

The super keyword refers to the superclass of the class in which the keyword is used.
Examples
public class MyClass
{
public MyClass(String arg)
{
super(arg);
}
public String myStringMethod()
{
return super.otherStringMethod();
}
Remarks
super as a standalone statement represents a call to a constructor of the superclass. •
super.<methodName>() represents a call to a method of the superclass. This usage is only
necessary
when calling a method that is overridden in this class in order to specify that the method
should be
called on the superclass.

switch Java Keyword

The switch statement is used to select execution of one of multiple code blocks based on
an expression.
Examples
int arg = <some value>;
switch (arg)
{
case 1:
<statements>
break;
case 2:
<statements>
break;
default:
<statements>
break;
}
char arg = <some value>;
switch (arg)
{
case 'y':
case 'Y':
<statements>
break;
case 'n':
case 'N':
<statements>
break;
default:
<statements>
break;
}
Remarks
The switch condition must evaluate to a byte, char, short or int. •
A case block does not have an implicit ending point. A break statement is typically used
at the end of
each case block to exit the switch statement.
•
Without a break statement, the flow of execution will flow into all following case and/or
default
blocks.

synchronized Java Keyword

The synchronized keyword may be applied to a method or statement block and provides
protection for critical
sections that should only be executed by one thread at a time.
Examples
public class MyClass
{
public synchronized static String mySyncStaticMethod()
{
}
public synchronized String mySyncMethod()
{
}
{
public class MyOtherClass
{
Object someObj;
public String myMethod()
{
<statements>
synchronized (someObj)
{
<statements affecting someObj>
}
}
}
Remarks
The synchronized keyword prevents a critical section of code from being executed by
more than one
thread at a time.
•
When applied to a static method, as with MySyncStaticMethod in the examples above,
the entire class
is locked while the method is being executed by one thread at a time.
•
When applied to an instance method, as with MySyncMethod in the examples above, the
instance is
locked while being accessed by one thread at at time.
•
When applied to an object or array, the object or array is locked while the associated code
block is
executed by one thread at at time.

this Java Keyword

The this keyword refers to the current instance.
Examples
public class MyClass
{
int number;
public MyClass(int number)
{
this.number = number;
}
}
Remarks
The this keyword is used to refer to the current instance when a reference may be
ambiguous. •
In the example above, the constructor argument number has the same name as a member
variable of
the class. this.number means specifically the number member variable of this instance of
MyClass.
•
throw Java Keyword
The throw keyword is used to raise an exception.
Examples
import java.io.IOException;
public class MyClass
{
public method readFile(String filename) throws IOException
{
<statements>
if (error)
{
throw new IOException("error reading file");
}
}
}
Remarks
The throw statement takes a java.lang.Throwable as an argument. The Throwable is
propagated up the
call stack until it is caught by an appropriate catch block.
•
Any method that throws an exception that is not a RuntimeException must also declare
the exceptions
it throws using a throws modifier on the method declaration.
•
throws Java Keyword
The throws keyword may be applied to a method to indicate the method raises particular
types of exceptions.
Examples
import java.io.IOException;
public class MyClass
{
public method readFile(String filename) throws IOException
{
<statements>
if (error)
{
throw new IOException("error reading file");
}
}
}
Remarks
The throws keyword takes a comma−separated list of java.lang.Throwables as an
argument. •
Any method that throws an exception that is not a RuntimeException must also declare
the exceptions
it throws using a throws modifier on the method declaration.
•
The caller of a method with a throws clause is required to enclose the method call in a
try−catch
block.
•

transient Java Keyword

The transient keyword may be applied to member variables of a class to indicate that the
member variable
should not be serialized when the containing class instance is serialized.
Examples
public class MyClass
{
private transient String password;
}
Remarks
None.
try Java Keyword
The try keyword is used to enclose blocks of statements that might throw exceptions.
Examples
try
{
<block that may throw exceptions>
}
catch (<java.lang.Exception or subclass> e)
{
<code to handle exception e>
}
try
{
<block that may throw different exceptions>
}
catch (FooException e)
{
<code to handle FooException e>
}
catch (BarException e)
{
<code to handle BarException e>
}
try
{
<block that may throw exceptions>
}
catch (<java.lang.Exception or subclass> e)
{
<code to handle exception e>
}
finally
{
<statements that execute with or without exception>
}
Remarks
Every try block must have at least one catch or finally clause. •
If a particular exception class is not handled by any catch clause, the exception
propagates up the call
stack to the next enclosing try block, recursively. If an exception is not caught by any
enclosing try
block, the Java interpretor will exit with an error message and stack trace.

true Java Keyword

The true keyword represents one of the two legal values for a boolean variable.
Examples
boolean isComplete = true;
Remarks
None.
void Java Keyword
The void keyword represents a null type.
Examples
public class MyClass
{
public void doSomething();
{
<statements>
return;
}
}
Remarks
void may be used as the return type of a method to indicate the method does not return a
value. •

volatile Java Keyword

The volatile keyword may be used to indicate a member variable that may be modified
asynchronously by more than one thread.
Note: the volatile keyword is not implemented in many Java Virtual Machines.
Examples
public class MyClass
{
volatile int sharedValue;
}
Remarks
volatile is intended to guarantee that all threads see the same value of the specified
variable. •
None.

while Java Keyword

The while keyword specifies a loop that is repeated as long as a condition is true.
Examples
while (!found)
{
<statements>
}
Remarks
None.