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Java Keywords - Meaning

This document defines Java keywords and their purposes. It lists 52 keywords including abstract, assert, boolean, break, byte, case, catch, char, class, const, continue, default, do, double, else, enum, extends, final, finally, float, for, goto, if, implements, import, instanceof, int, interface, long, native, new, package, private, protected, public, return, short, static, strictfp, super, switch, synchronized, this, throw, throws, transient, try, void, volatile, and while and provides a 1-3 sentence description of what each keyword is used for in Java code.

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83 views

Java Keywords - Meaning

This document defines Java keywords and their purposes. It lists 52 keywords including abstract, assert, boolean, break, byte, case, catch, char, class, const, continue, default, do, double, else, enum, extends, final, finally, float, for, goto, if, implements, import, instanceof, int, interface, long, native, new, package, private, protected, public, return, short, static, strictfp, super, switch, synchronized, this, throw, throws, transient, try, void, volatile, and while and provides a 1-3 sentence description of what each keyword is used for in Java code.

Uploaded by

cvelan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Variable Description

abstract

Indicates that the details of a class, a method, or


an interface are given elsew here in the code.

assert Tests the truth of a condition that the


programmer believes is true.

boolean Indicates that a value is either true or false.

break Jumps out of a loop or switch.

byte Indicates that a value is an 8-bit whole number.

case Introduces one of several possible paths of


execution in a switch statement.

catch Introduces statements that are executed when


something interrupts the flow of execution in
a try clause.

char Indicates that a value is a character (a single


letter, digit, punctuation symbol, and so on)
stored in 16 bits of memory.

class Introduces a class — a blueprint for an object.

const You can’t use this word in a Java program. The


word has no meaning but, because it’s a
keyword, you can’t create a variable named
const.

continue Forces the abrupt end of the current loop


iteration and begins another iteration.

default Introduces a path of execution to take when no


case is a match in a switchstatement.

do Causes the computer to repeat some


statements over and over again (for instance, as
long as the computer keeps getting
unacceptable results).

double Indicates that a value is a 64-bit number with


one or more digits after the decimal point.

else Introduces statements that are executed when


the condition in an if statement isn’t true.

enum Creates a newly defined type — a group of


values that a variable can have.

extends Creates a subclass — a class that reuses


functionality from a previously defined class.

final Indicates that a variable’s value cannot be


changed, that a class’s functionality cannot be
extended, or that a method cannot be
overridden.

finally Introduces the last will and testament of the


statements in a try clause.

float Indicates that a value is a 32-bit number with


one or more digits after the decimal point.

for Gets the computer to repeat some statements


over and over again (for instance, a certain
number of times).

goto You can’t use this word in a Java program. The


word has no meaning. Because it’s a keyword,
you can’t create a variable named goto.

if Tests to see whether a condition is true. If it’s


true, the computer executes certain statements;
otherwise, the computer executes other
statements.

implements Indicates that a class provides bodies for


methods whose headers are declared in an
interface.

import Enables the programmer to abbreviate the


names of classes defined in a package.

instanceof Tests to see whether a certain object comes


from a certain class.

int Indicates that a value is a 32-bit whole number.

interface Introduces an interface. An interface is like a


class but, for the most part, an interface’s
methods have no bodies.

long Indicates that a value is a 64-bit whole number.

native Enables the programmer to use code that was


written in a language other than Java.

new Creates an object from an existing class.

package Puts the code into a package — a collection of


logically related definitions.

private Indicates that a variable or method can be used


only within a certain class.

protected Indicates that a variable or method can be used


in subclasses from another package.

public Indicates that a variable, class, or method can


be used by any other Java code.

return Ends execution of a method and possibly


returns a value to the calling code.

short Indicates that a value is a 16-bit whole number.

static Indicates that a variable or method belongs to a


class, rather than to any object created from the
class.

strictfp Limits the computer’s ability to represent extra


large or extra small numbers when the computer
does intermediate calculations
on float and doublevalues.

super Refers to the superclass of the code in which


the word super appears.

switch Tells the computer to follow one of many


possible paths of execution (one of many
possible cases), depending on the value of an
expression.

synchronized Keeps two threads from interfering with one


another.

this A self-reference — refers to the object in which


the word this appears.

throw Creates a new exception object and indicates


that an exceptional situation (usually something
unwanted) has occurred.

throws Indicates that a method or constructor may pass


the buck when an exception is thrown.

transient Indicates that, if and when an object is


serialized, a variable’s value doesn’t need to be
stored.

try Introduces statements that are watched (during


runtime) for things that can go wrong.

void Indicates that a method doesn’t return a value.

volatile Imposes strict rules on the use of a variable by


more than one thread at a time.

while Repeats some statements over and over again


(as long as a condition is still true).

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