Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Two public classes in the same file.

• Main method calling a non-static method.
• Methods with the same name as the constructor(s).
• Thread initiation with classes that dont have a run() method.
• Local inner classes trying to access non-final vars.
• Case statements with values out of permissible range.
• Math class being an option for immutable classes !!
• instanceOf is not same as instanceof
• Private constructors
• An assignment statement which looks like a comparison if ( a=true)...
• System.exit() in try-catch-finally blocks.
• Uninitialized variable references with no path of proper initialization.
• Order of try-catch-finally blocks matters.
• main() can be declared final.
• -0.0 == 0.0 is true.
• A class without abstract methods can still be declared abstract.
• RandomAccessFile descends from Object and implements DataInput and
DataOutput.
• Map doesnot implement Collection.
• Dictionary is a class, not an interface.
• Collection is an Interface where as Collections is a helper class.
• Class declarations can come in any order ( derived first, base next etc. ).
• Forward references to variables gives compiler error.
• Multi dimensional arrays can be sparce ie., if you imagine the array as a
matrix, every row need not have the same number of columns.
• Arrays, whether local or class-level, are always initialized,
• Strings are initialized to null, not empty string.
• An empty string is NOT the same as a null string.
• A declaration cannot be labelled.
• continue must be in a loop( for, do , while ). It cannot appear in case
constructs.
• Primitive array types can never be assigned to each other, eventhough the
primitives themselves can be assigned. ie., ArrayofLongPrimitives =
ArrayofIntegerPrimitives gives compiler error eventhough longvar =
intvar is perfectly valid.
• A constructor can throw any exception.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Initilializer blocks are executed in the order of declaration.

• Instance initializer(s) gets executed ONLY IF the objects are constructed.
• All comparisons involving NaN and a non-Nan would always result
false.
• Default type of a numeric literal with a decimal point is double.
• integer (and long ) operations / and % can throw ArithmeticException
while float / and % will never, even in case of division by zero.
• == gives compiler error if the operands are cast-incompatible.
• You can never cast objects of sibling classes( sharing the same parent ),
even with an explicit cast.
• .equals returns false if the object types are different. It does not raise a
compiler error.
• No inner class can have a static member.
• File class has NO methods to deal with the contents of the file.
• InputStream and OutputStream are abstract classes, while DataInput and
DataOutput are interfaces.

• Two top-level public classes cannot be in the same source file.

* main() cannot call an instance (non-static) method.
* Methods can have the same name as the constructor(s).
* Watch for thread initiation with classes that don't have a run() method.
* Local classes cannot access non-final variables.
* Case statements must have values within permissible range.
* Watch for Math class being an option for immutable classes.
* instanceOf is not the same as instanceof.
* Constructors can be private.
* Assignment statements can be mistaken for a comparison; e.g.,
if(a=true)...
* Watch for System.exit() in try-catch-finally blocks.
* Watch for uninitialized variable references with no path of proper
initialization.
* Order of try-catch-finally blocks matters.
* main() can be declared final.
* -0.0 == 0.0 is true.
* A class without abstract methods can still be declared abstract.
* RandomAccessFile descends from Object and implements DataInput
and DataOutput.
* Map does not implement Collection.
* Dictionary is a class, not an interface.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

* Collection (singular) is an Interface, but Collections (plural) is a helper

class.
* Class declarations can come in any order (e.g., derived first, base next,
etc.).
* Forward references to variables gives a compiler error.
* Multi-dimensional arrays can be "sparse" -- i.e., if you imagine the array
as a matrix, every row need not have the same number of columns.
* Arrays, whether local or class-level, are always initialized
* Strings are initialized to null, not empty string.
* An empty string is not the same as a null reference.
* A declaration cannot be labelled.
* continue must be in a loop (e.g., for, do, while). It cannot appear in case
constructs.
* Primitive array types can never be assigned to each other, even though
the primitives themselves can be assigned. For example,
ArrayofLongPrimitives = ArrayofIntegerPrimitives gives compiler error
even though longvar = intvar is perfectly valid.
* A constructor can throw any exception.
* Initializer blocks are executed in the order of declaration.
* Instance initializers are executed only if an object is constructed.
* All comparisons involving NaN and a non-NaN always result in false.
* Default type of a numeric literal with a decimal point is double.
* int and long operations / and % can throw an ArithmeticException,
while float and double / and % never will (even in case of division by zero).
* == gives compiler error if the operands are cast-incompatible.
* You can never cast objects of sibling classes (sharing the same parent).
* equals() returns false if the object types are different. It does not raise a
compiler error.
* No inner class can have a static member.
* File class has no methods to deal with the contents of the file.
* InputStream and OutputStream are abstract classes, while DataInput and
DataOutput are interfaces.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 1 Language Fundamentals

1. Source file’s elements (in order)
a. Package declaration
b. Import statements
c. Class definitions
2. Importing packages doesn’t recursively import sub-packages.
3. Sub-packages are really different packages, happen to live within an
enclosing package. Classes in sub-packages cannot access classes in
enclosing package with default access.
4. Comments can appear anywhere. Can’t be nested.(No matter what type
of comments)
5. At most one public class definition per file. This class name should
match the file name. If there are more than one public class definitions,
compiler will accept the class with the file’s name and give an error at the
line where the other class is defined.
6. It’s not required having a public class definition in a file. Strange, but
true.  In this case, the file’s name should be different from the names of
classes and interfaces (not public obviously).
7. Even an empty file is a valid source file.
8. An identifier must begin with a letter, dollar sign ($) or underscore (_).
Subsequent characters may be letters, $, _ or digits.
9. An identifier cannot have a name of a Java keyword. Embedded
keywords are OK. true, false and null are literals (not keywords), but they
can’t be used as identifiers as well.
10.const and goto are reserved words, but not used.
11.Unicode characters can appear anywhere in the source code. The
following code is valid.
ch\u0061r a = 'a';
char \u0062 = 'b';
char c = '\u0063';
12.Java has 8 primitive data types.

Data Size Initial Min Max Value

Type (bits Value Value
)
boolean 16 False false true
Byte 8 0 -128 (- 127 (27 – 1)
27)
short 16 0 -215 215 - 1
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

char 16 ‘\u0000’ ‘\u000 ‘\uFFFF’ (216 – 1)

0’ (0)
Int 32 0 -231 231 - 1
Long 64 0L -263 263 - 1
Float 32 0.0F 1.4E- 3.4028235E38
45
Double 64 0.0 4.9E- 1.79769313486231
324 57E308

13.All numeric data types are signed. char is the only unsigned integral type.
14.Object reference variables are initialized to null.
15.Octal literals begin with zero. Hex literals begin with 0X or 0x.
16.Char literals are single quoted characters or unicode values (begin with
\u).
17.A number is by default an int literal, a decimal number is by default a
double literal.
18.1E-5d is a valid double literal, E2d is not (since it starts with a letter,
compiler thinks that it’s an identifier)
19.Two types of variables.
1. Member variables
• Accessible anywhere in the class.
• Automatically initialized before invoking any constructor.
• Static variables are initialized at class load time.
• Can have the same name as the class.
2. Automatic variables(method local)
• Must be initialized explicitly. (Or, compiler will catch it.)
Object references can be initialized to null to make the compiler
happy. The following code won’t compile. Specify else part or
initialize the local variable explicitly.

public String testMethod ( int a) {

String tmp; // Here, tmp is uninitialised
if ( a > 0 ) tmp = “Positive”;
return tmp; //Incompatible return value, if the “if” condition
is false. So won,t compile.
}
• Can have the same name as a member variable, resolution is
based on scope.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

20.Arrays are Java objects. If you create an array of 5 Strings, there will be 6
objects created.
21.Arrays should be
1. Declared. (int[] a; String b[]; Object []c; Size should not be
specified now)
2. Allocated (constructed). ( a = new int[10]; c = new
String[arraysize] )
3. Initialized. for (int i = 0; i < a.length; a[i++] = 0)
22.The above three can be done in one step.
int a[] = { 1, 2, 3 }; (or )
int a[] = new int[] { 1, 2, 3 }; But never specify the size with
the new statement.
23.Java arrays are static arrays. Size has to be specified at compile time.
Array.length returns array’s size. (Use Vectors for dynamic purposes).
24.Array size is never specified with the reference variable, it is always
maintained with the array object. It is maintained in array.length, which
is a final instance variable.
25. Anonymous arrays can be created and used like this: new int[] {1,2,3} or
new int[10]
26.Arrays with zero elements can be created. args array to the main method
will be a zero element array if no command parameters are specified. In
this case args.length is 0.
27.Comma after the last initializer in array declaration is ignored.

int[] i = new int[2] { 5, 10}; // Wrong

int i[5] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; // Wrong
int[] i[] = {{}, new int[] {} }; // Correct
int i[][] = { {1,2}, new int[2] }; // Correct
int i[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, } ; // Correct

28.Array indexes start with 0. Index is an int data type.

29.Square brackets can come after datatype or before/after variable name.
White spaces are fine. Compiler just ignores them.
30.Arrays declared even as member variables also need to be allocated
memory explicitly.
static int a[];
static int b[] = {1,2,3};
public static void main(String s[]) {
System.out.println(a[0]); // Throws a null pointer
exception
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

System.out.println(b[0]); // This code runs fine

System.out.println(a); // Prints ‘null’
System.out.println(b); // Prints a string which is
returned by toString
}
31.Once declared and allocated (even for local arrays inside methods), array
elements are automatically initialized to the default values.
32. If only declared (not constructed), member array variables default to null,
but local array variables will not default to null.
33. Java doesn’t support multidimensional arrays formally, but it supports
arrays of arrays. From the specification - “The number of bracket pairs
indicates the depth of array nesting.” So this can perform as a
multidimensional array. (no limit to levels of array nesting)
34.In order to be run by JVM, a class should have a main method with the
following signature.
public static void main(String args[])
static public void main(String[] s)
35.args array’s name is not important. args[0] is the first argument.
args.length gives no. of arguments.
36.main method can be overloaded.
37.main method can be final.
38.A class with a different main signature or w/o main method will compile.
But throws a runtime error.
39.A class without a main method can be run by JVM, if its ancestor class
has a main method. (main is just a method and is inherited)
40.Primitives are passed by value.
41.Objects (references) are passed by reference. The object reference itself is
passed by value. So, it can’t be changed. But, the object can be changed
via the reference.
42.Garbage collection is a mechanism for reclaiming memory from objects
that are no longer in use, and making the memory available for new
objects.
43.An object being no longer in use means that it can’t be referenced by any
‘active’ part of the program.
44. Garbage collection runs in a low priority thread. It may kick in when
memory is too low. No guarantee.
45. It’s not possible to force garbage collection. Invoking System.gc may
start garbage collection process.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

46.The automatic garbage collection scheme guarantees that a reference to

an object is always valid while the object is in use, i.e. the object will not
be deleted leaving the reference “dangling”.
47.There are no guarantees that the objects no longer in use will be garbage
collected and their finalizers executed at all. gc might not even be run if
the program execution does not warrant it. Thus any memory allocated
during program execution might remain allocated after program
termination, unless reclaimed by the OS or by other means.
48.There are also no guarantees on the order in which the objects will be
garbage collected or on the order in which the finalizers are called.
Therefore, the program should not make any decisions based on these
assumptions.
49.An object is only eligible for garbage collection, if the only references to
the object are from other objects that are also eligible for garbage
collection. That is, an object can become eligible for garbage collection
even if there are references pointing to the object, as long as the objects
with the references are also eligible for garbage collection.
50.Circular references do not prevent objects from being garbage collected.
51.We can set the reference variables to null, hinting the gc to garbage
collect the objects referred by the variables. Even if we do that, the object
may not be gc-ed if it’s attached to a listener. (Typical in case of AWT
components) Remember to remove the listener first.
52.All objects have a finalize method. It is inherited from the Object class.
53.finalize method is used to release system resources other than memory.
(such as file handles and network connections) The order in which
finalize methods are called may not reflect the order in which objects are
created. Don’t rely on it. This is the signature of the finalize method.
protected void finalize() throws Throwable { }
In the descendents this method can be protected or public. Descendents
can restrict the exception list that can be thrown by this method.
54.finalize is called only once for an object. If any exception is thrown in
finalize, the object is still eligible for garbage collection (at the discretion
of gc)
55.gc keeps track of unreachable objects and garbage-collects them, but an
unreachable object can become reachable again by letting know other
objects of its existence from its finalize method (when called by gc). This
‘resurrection’ can be done only once, since finalize is called only one for
an object.
56.finalize can be called explicitly, but it does not garbage collect the object.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

57.finalize can be overloaded, but only the method with original finalize
signature will be called by gc.
58.finalize is not implicitly chained. A finalize method in sub-class should
call finalize in super class explicitly as its last action for proper
functioning. But compiler doesn’t enforce this check.
59.System.runFinalization can be used to run the finalizers (which have not
been executed before) for the objects eligible for garbage collection.
60.The following table specifies the color coding of javadoc standard. (May
be not applicable to 1.2)

Member Color
Instance method Red
Static method Green
Final variable Blue
Constructor Yellow
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 2 Operators and assignments

1. Unary operators.
1.1Increment and Decrement operators ++ --
We have postfix and prefix notation. In post-fix notation value of
the variable/expression is modified after the value is taken for the
execution of statement. In prefix notation, value of the
variable/expression is modified before the value is taken for the
execution of statement.

x = 5; y = 0; y = x++; Result will be x = 6, y = 5

x = 5; y = 0; y = ++x; Result will be x = 6, y = 6

Implicit narrowing conversion is done, when applied to byte,

short or char.

1.2Unary minus and unary plus + -

+ has no effect than to stress positivity.
- negates an expression’s value. (2’s complement for integral
expressions)
1.3Negation !
Inverts the value of a boolean expression.
1.4Complement ~
Inverts the bit pattern of an integral expression. (1’s complement –
0s to 1s and 1s to 0s)
Cannot be applied to non-integral types.
1.5Cast ()
Persuades compiler to allow certain assignments. Extensive
checking is done at compile and runtime to ensure type-safety.
2. Arithmetic operators - *, /, %, +, -
• Can be applied to all numeric types.
• Can be applied to only the numeric types, except ‘+’ – it can be
applied to Strings as well.
• All arithmetic operations are done at least with ‘int’. (If types
are smaller, promotion happens. Result will be of a type at least as
wide as the wide type of operands)
• Accuracy is lost silently when arithmetic overflow/error occurs.
Result is a nonsense value.
• Integer division by zero throws an exception.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• % - reduce the magnitude of LHS by the magnitude of RHS.

(continuous subtraction)
• % - sign of the result entirely determined by sign of LHS
• 5 % 0 throws an ArithmeticException.
• Floating point calculations can produce NaN (square root of a
negative no) or Infinity ( division by zero). Float and Double wrapper
classes have named constants for NaN and infinities.
• NaN’s are non-ordinal for comparisons. x == Float.NaN won’t
work. Use Float.IsNaN(x) But equals method on wrapper
objects(Double or Float) with NaN values compares Nan’s correctly.
• Infinities are ordinal. X == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY will
give expected result.
• + also performs String concatenation (when any operand in an
expression is a String). The language itself overloads this operator.
toString method of non-String object operands are called to perform
concatenation. In case of primitives, a wrapper object is created with
the primitive value and toString method of that object is called. (“Vel”
+ 3 will work.)
• Be aware of associativity when multiple operands are involved.
System.out.println( 1 + 2 + “3” ); // Prints 33
System.out.println( “1” + 2 + 3 ); // Prints 123
3. Shift operators - <<, >>, >>>
• << performs a signed left shift. 0 bits are brought in from the
right. Sign bit (MSB) is preserved. Value becomes old value * 2 ^ x
where x is no of bits shifted.
• >> performs a signed right shift. Sign bit is brought in from the
left. (0 if positive, 1 if negative. Value becomes old value / 2 ^ x
where x is no of bits shifted. Also called arithmetic right shift.
• >>> performs an unsigned logical right shift. 0 bits are brought
in from the left. This operator exists since Java doesn’t provide an
unsigned data type (except char). >>> changes the sign of a negative
number to be positive. So don’t use it with negative numbers, if you
want to preserve the sign. Also don’t use it with types smaller than int.
(Since types smaller than int are promoted to an int before any shift
operation and the result is cast down again, so the end result is
unpredictable.)
• Shift operators can be applied to only integral types.
• -1 >> 1 is –1, not 0. This differs from simple division by 2. We
can think of it as shift operation rounding down.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• 1 << 31 will become the minimum value that an int can

represent. (Value becomes negative, after this operation, if you do a
signed right shift sign bit is brought in from the left and the value
remains negative.)
• Negative numbers are represented in two’s complement
notation. (Take one’s complement and add 1 to get two’s
complement)
• Shift operators never shift more than the number of bits the type
of result can have. ( i.e. int 32, long 64) RHS operand is reduced to
RHS % x where x is no of bits in type of result.
int x;
x = x >> 33; // Here actually what happens is x >> 1
4. Comparison operators – all return boolean type.
4.1Ordinal comparisons - <, <=, > , >=
• Only operate on numeric types. Test the relative value of
the numeric operands.
• Arithmetic promotions apply. char can be compared to
float.
4.2Object type comparison – instanceof
• Tests the class of an object at runtime. Checking is done
at compile and runtime same as the cast operator.
• Returns true if the object denoted by LHS reference can
be cast to RHS type.
• LHS should be an object reference expression, variable
or an array reference.
• RHS should be a class (abstract classes are fine), an
interface or an array type, castable to LHS object reference.
Compiler error if LHS & RHS are unrelated.
• Can’t use java.lang.Class or its String name as RHS.
• Returns true if LHS is a class or subclass of RHS class
• Returns true if LHS implements RHS interface.
• Returns true if LHS is an array reference and of type
RHS.
• x instanceof Component[] – legal.
• x instanceof [] – illegal. Can’t test for ‘any array of any
type’
• Returns false if LHS is null, no exceptions are thrown.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• If x instanceof Y is not allowed by compiler, then Y y =

(Y) x is not a valid cast expression. If x instanceof Y is allowed
and returns false, the above cast is valid but throws a
ClassCastException at runtime. If x instanceof Y returns true,
the above cast is valid and runs fine.
4.3Equality comparisons - ==, !=
• For primitives it’s a straightforward value comparison.
(promotions apply)
• For object references, this doesn’t make much sense. Use
equals method for meaningful comparisons. (Make sure that the
class implements equals in a meaningful way, like for
X.equals(Y) to be true, Y instance of X must be true as well)
• For String literals, == will return true, this is because of
compiler optimization.
5. Bit-wise operators - &, ^, |
• Operate on numeric and boolean operands.
• & - AND operator, both bits must be 1 to produce 1.
• | - OR operator, any one bit can be 1 to produce 1.
• ^ - XOR operator, any one bit can be 1, but not both, to produce
1.
• In case of booleans true is 1, false is 0.
• Can’t cast any other type to boolean.
6. Short-circuit logical operators - &&, ||
• Operate only on boolean types.
• RHS might not be evaluated (hence the name short-circuit), if
the result can be determined only by looking at LHS.
• false && X is always false.
• true || X is always true.
• RHS is evaluated only if the result is not certain from the LHS.
• That’s why there’s no logical XOR operator. Both bits need to
be known to calculate the result.
• Short-circuiting doesn’t change the result of the operation. But
side effects might be changed. (i.e. some statements in RHS might not
be executed, if short-circuit happens. Be careful)
7. Ternary operator
• Format a = x ? b : c ;
• x should be a boolean expression.
• Based on x, either b or c is evaluated. Both are never evaluated.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• b will be assigned to a if x is true, else c is assigned to a.

• b and c should be assignment compatible to a.
• b and c are made identical during the operation according to
promotions.
8. Assignment operators.
• Simple assignment =.
• op= calculate and assign operators(extended assignment
operators)
• *=, /=, %=, +=, -=
• x += y means x = x + y. But x is evaluated only once. Be aware.
• Assignment of reference variables copies the reference value,
not the object body.
• Assignment has value, value of LHS after assignment. So a = b
= c = 0 is legal. c = 0 is executed first, and the value of the assignment
(0) assigned to b, then the value of that assignment (again 0) is
assigned to a.
• Extended assignment operators do an implicit cast. (Useful
when applied to byte, short or char)
byte b = 10;
b = b + 10; // Won’t compile, explicit cast required
since the expression evaluates to an int
b += 10; // OK, += does an implicit cast from int
to byte

9. General
• In Java, No overflow or underflow of integers happens. i.e. The
values wrap around. Adding 1 to the maximum int value results in the
minimum value.
• Always keep in mind that operands are evaluated from left to
right, and the operations are executed in the order of precedence and
associativity.
• Unary Postfix operators and all binary operators (except
assignment operators) have left to right assoiciativity.
• All unary operators (except postfix operators), assignment
operators, ternary operator, object creation and cast operators have
right to left assoiciativity.
• Inspect the following code.
public class Precedence {
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

final public static void main(String args[]) {

int i = 0;
i = i++;
i = i++;
i = i++;
System.out.println(i); // prints 0, since =
operator has the lowest precedence.

int array[] = new int[5];

int index = 0;
array[index] = index = 3; // 1st element gets
assigned to 3, not the 4th element

for (int c = 0; c < array.length; c++)

System.out.println(array[c]);
System.out.println("index is " + index); //
prints 3
}
}

Type of Operators Operators Associativity

Postfix operators [] . (parameters) ++ -- Left to Right
Prefix Unary operators ++ -- + - ~ ! Right to Left
Object creation and cast new (type) Right to Left
Multiplication/Division/ */% Left to Right
Modulus
Addition/Subtraction +- Left to Right
Shift >> >>> << Left to Right
Relational < <= > >= instanceof Left to Right
Equality == != Left to Right
Bit-wise/Boolean AND & Left to Right
Bit-wise/Boolean XOR ^ Left to Right
Bit-wise/Boolean OR | Left to Right
Logical AND (Short- && Left to Right
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

circuit or Conditional)
Logical OR (Short-circuit || Left to Right
or Conditional)
Ternary ?: Right to Left
Assignment = += -= *= /= %= <<= >>= Right to Left
>>>= &= ^= |=
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 3 Modifiers

1. Modifiers are Java keywords that provide information to compiler about

the nature of the code, data and classes.
2. Access modifiers – public, protected, private
• Only applied to class level variables. Method variables are
visible only inside the method.
• Can be applied to class itself (only to inner classes declared at
class level, no such thing as protected or private top level class)
• Can be applied to methods and constructors.
• If a class is accessible, it doesn’t mean, the members are also
accessible. Members’ accessibility determines what is accessible and
what is not. But if the class is not accessible, the members are not
accessible, even though they are declared public.
• If no access modifier is specified, then the accessibility is
default package visibility. All classes in the same package can access
the feature. It’s called as friendly access. But friendly is not a Java
keyword. Same directory is same package in Java’s consideration.
• ‘private’ means only the class can access it, not even sub-
classes. So, it’ll cause access denial to a sub-class’s own
variable/method.
• These modifiers dictate, which classes can access the features.
An instance of a class can access the private features of another
instance of the same class.
• ‘protected’ means all classes in the same package (like default)
and sub-classes in any package can access the features. But a subclass
in another package can access the protected members in the super-
class via only the references of subclass or its subclasses. A subclass
in the same package doesn’t have this restriction. This ensures that
classes from other packages are accessing only the members that are
part of their inheritance hierarchy.
• Methods cannot be overridden to be more private. Only the
direction shown in following figure is permitted from parent classes to
sub-classes.

private  friendly (default)  protected  public

Parent classes Sub-classes

 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

3. final
• final features cannot be changed.
• final classes cannot be sub-classed.
• final variables cannot be changed. (Either a value has to be
specified at declaration or an assignment statement can appear only
once).
• final methods cannot be overridden.
• Method arguments marked final are read-only. Compiler error,
if trying to assign values to final arguments inside the method.
• Member variables marked final are not initialized by default.
They have to be explicitly assigned a value at declaration or in an
initializer block. Static finals must be assigned to a value in a static
initializer block, instance finals must be assigned a value in an
instance initializer or in every constructor. Otherwise the compiler
will complain.
• Final variables that are not assigned a value at the declaration
and method arguments that are marked final are called blank final
variables. They can be assigned a value at most once.
• Local variables can be declared final as well.

4. abstract
• Can be applied to classes and methods.
• For deferring implementation to sub-classes.
• Opposite of final, final can’t be sub-classed, abstract must be
sub-classed.
• A class should be declared abstract,
1. if it has any abstract methods.
2. if it doesn’t provide implementation to any of the abstract methods
it inherited
3. if it doesn’t provide implementation to any of the methods in an
interface that it says implementing.
• Just terminate the abstract method signature with a ‘;’, curly
braces will give a compiler error.
• A class can be abstract even if it doesn’t have any abstract
methods.

5. static
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Can be applied to nested classes, methods, variables, free

floating code-block (static initializer)
• Static variables are initialized at class load time. A class has
only one copy of these variables.
• Static methods can access only static variables. (They have no
this)
• Access by class name is a recommended way to access static
methods/variables.
• Static initializer code is run at class load time.
• Static methods may not be overridden to be non-static.
• Non-static methods may not be overridden to be static.
• Abstract methods may not be static.
• Local variables cannot be declared as static.
• Actually, static methods are not participating in the usual
overriding mechanism of invoking the methods based on the class of
the object at runtime. Static method binding is done at compile time,
so the method to be invoked is determined by the type of reference
variable rather than the actual type of the object it holds at runtime.

Let’s say a sub-class has a static method which ‘overrides’ a static

method in a parent class. If you have a reference variable of parent
class type and you assign a child class object to that variable and
invoke the static method, the method invoked will be the parent class
method, not the child class method. The following code explains this.

public class StaticOverridingTest {

public static void main(String s[]) {
Child c = new Child();
c.doStuff(); // This will invoke Child.doStuff()

Parent p = new Parent();

p.doStuff(); // This will invoke Parent.doStuff()

p = c;
p.doStuff(); // This will invoke
Parent.doStuff(), rather than Child.doStuff()
}
}
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

class Parent {
static int x = 100;
public static void doStuff() {
System.out.println("In Parent..doStuff");
System.out.println(x);
}
}

class Child extends Parent {

static int x = 200;
public static void doStuff() {
System.out.println("In Child..doStuff");
System.out.println(x);
}
}
6. native
• Can be applied to methods only. (static methods also)
• Written in a non-Java language, compiled for a single machine
target type.
• Java classes use lot of native methods for performance and for
accessing hardware Java is not aware of.
• Native method signature should be terminated by a ‘;’, curly
braces will provide a compiler error.
• native doesn’t affect access qualifiers. Native methods can be
private.
• Can pass/return Java objects from native methods.
• System.loadLibrary is used in static initializer code to load
native libraries. If the library is not loaded when the static method is
called, an UnsatisfiedLinkError is thrown.

7. transient
• When an instance variable is declared as transient, then its
value need not persist when an object is stored. For example:

class T {
transient int a; // will not persist
int b; // will persist
}
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Can be applied to class level variables only.(Local variables

cannot be declared transient)
• Transient variables may not be final or static.(But compiler
allows the declaration, since it doesn’t do any harm. Variables marked
transient are never serialized. Static variables are not serialized
anyway.)
• Not stored as part of object’s persistent state, i.e. not written out
during serialization.
• Can be used for security.

8. synchronized
• Can be applied to methods or parts of methods only.
• Used to control access to critical code in multi-threaded
programs.

9. volatile
• Can be applied to variables only.
• Can be applied to static variables.
• Cannot be applied to final variables.
• Declaring a variable volatile indicates that it might be modified
asynchronously, so that all threads will get the correct value of the
variable.
• Used in multi-processor environments.

Modifier Cl Inner Vari Meth Constru Free floating

ass classes able od ctor Code block
(Totally (Except
11 local and
Modifier anonymous
s) classes)
Public Y Y Y Y Y N
Protected N Y Y Y Y N
(friendly) Y Y (OK for Y Y Y N
No access all)
modifier
Private N Y Y Y Y N
Final Y Y (Except Y Y N N
anonymous
classes)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Abstract Y Y (Except N Y N N
anonymous
classes)
Static N Y Y Y N Y (static
initializer)
Native N N N Y N N
Transient N N Y N N N
Synchroni N N N Y N Y (part of
zed method, also
need to specify
an object on
which a lock
should be
obtained)
Volatile N N Y N N N
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 4 Converting and Casting

Unary Numeric Promotion
Contexts:
• Operand of the unary arithmetic operators + and –
• Operand of the unary integer bit-wise complement operator ~
• During array creation, for example new int[x], where the
dimension expression x must evaluate to an int value.
• Indexing array elements, for example table[‘a’], where the
index expression must evaluate to an int value.
• Individual operands of the shift operators.

Binary numeric promotion

Contexts:
• Operands of arithmetic operators *, / , %, + and –
• Operands of relational operators <, <= , > and >=
• Numeric Operands of equality operators == and !=
• Integer Operands of bit-wise operators &, ^ and |

Conversion of Primitives
1. 3 types of conversion – assignment conversion, method call conversion
and arithmetic promotion
2. boolean may not be converted to/from any non-boolean type.
3. Widening conversions accepted. Narrowing conversions rejected.
4. byte, short can’t be converted to char and vice versa.
5. Arithmetic promotion
5.1Unary operators
• if the operand is byte, short or char {
convert it to int;
}
else {
do nothing; no conversion needed;
}
5.2Binary operators
• if one operand is double {
all double; convert the other operand to double;
}
else if one operand is float {
all float; convert the other operand to float;
}
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

else if one operand is long {

all long; convert the other operand to long;
}
else {
all int; convert all to int;
}
6. When assigning a literal value to a variable, the range of the variable’s
data type is checked against the value of the literal and assignment is
allowed or compiler will produce an error.
char c = 3; // this will compile, even though a numeric literal is by
default an int since the range of char will accept the value

char c = 10000; // this also compiled, even though a numeric

literal is by default an int since the range of char will accept the value
– unicode character range

int a = 3;
char d = a; // this won’t compile, since we’re assigning an int to
char

char e = -1; // this also won’t compile, since the value is not in the
range of char

char c = ‘9’; // this will compile, but ‘10’ or greater than ‘10’
will give error.

float f = 1.3; // this won’t compile, even though the value is within
float range. Here range is not important, but precision is. 1.3 is by
default a double, so a specific cast or f = 1.3f will work.
float f = 1/3; // this won’t compile, infinity error during division;

float f = 10/3; // this will compile, since RHS evaluates to an int.

Float f = 10.0 / 3.0; // this won’t compile, since RHS evaluates to a
double.

7. Also when assigning a final variable to a variable, even if the final

variable’s data type is wider than the variable, if the value is within the
range of the variable an implicit conversion is done.
byte b;
final int a = 10;
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

b = a; // Legal, since value of ‘a’ is determinable and within

range of b
final int x = a;
b = x; // Legal, since value of ‘x’ is determinable and within
range of b
int y;
final int z = y;
b = z; // Illegal, since value of ‘z’ is not determinable

8. Method call conversions always look for the exact data type or a wider
one in the method signatures. They will not do narrowing conversions to
resolve methods, instead we will get a compile error.

Here is the figure of allowable primitive conversion.

byte  short  int  long  float  double

↑
char

Casting of Primitives
9. Needed with narrowing conversions. Use with care – radical information
loss. Also can be used with widening conversions, to improve the clarity
of the code.
10.Can cast any non-boolean type to another non-boolean type.
11.Cannot cast a boolean or to a boolean type.

Conversion of Object references

12.Three types of reference variables to denote objects - class, interface or
array type.
13.Two kinds of objects can be created – class or array.
14.Two types of conversion – assignment and method call.
15.Permitted if the direction of the conversion is ‘up’ the inheritance
hierarchy. Means that types can be assigned/substituted to only super-
types – super-classes or interfaces. Not the other way around, explicit
casting is needed for that.
16.Interfaces can be used as types when declaring variables, so they
participate in the object reference conversion. But we cannot instantiate
an interface, since it is abstract and doesn’t provide any implementation.
These variables can be used to hold objects of classes that implement the
interface. The reason for having interfaces as types may be, I think,
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

several unrelated classes may implement the same interface and if there’s
a need to deal with them collectively one way of treating them may be an
array of the interface type that they implement.
17.Primitive arrays can be converted to only the arrays of the same primitive
type. They cannot be converted to another type of primitive array. Only
object reference arrays can be converted / cast.
18.Primitive arrays can be converted to an Object reference, but not to an
Object[] reference. This is because all arrays (primitive arrays and
Object[]) are extended from Object.

Casting of Object references

19.Allows super-types to be assigned to subtypes. Extensive checks done
both at compile and runtime. At compile time, class of the object may not
be known, so at runtime if checks fail, a ClassCastException is thrown.
20. Cast operator, instanceof operator and the == operator behave the same
way in allowing references to be the operands of them. You cannot cast
or apply instanceof or compare unrelated references, sibling references
or any incompatible references.

Compile-time Rules
• When old and new types are classes, one class must be the sub-
class of the other.
• When old and new types are arrays, both must contain reference
types and it must be legal to cast between those types (primitive
arrays cannot be cast, conversion possible only between same type
of primitive arrays).
• .
• 0We can always cast between an interface and a non-final
object.

Run-time rules
• If new type is a class, the class of the expression being
converted must be new type or extend new type.
• If new type is an interface, the class of the expression being
converted must implement the interface.

An Object reference can be converted to: (java.lang.Object)

 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• an Object reference
• a Cloneable interface reference, with casting, with runtime
check
• any class reference, with casting, with runtime check
• any array referenece, with casting, with runtime check
• any interface reference, with casting, with runtime check

A Class type reference can be converted to:

• any super-class type reference, (including Object)
• any sub-class type reference, with casting, with runtime check
• an interface reference, if the class implements that interface
• any interface reference, with casting, with runtime check
(except if the class is final and doesn’t implement the interface)

An Interface reference can be converted to:

• an Object reference
• a super-interface reference
• any interface/class reference with casting, with runtime check
(except if the class is final and doesn’t implement the interface)

A Primitive Array reference can be converted to:

• an Object reference
• a Cloneable interface reference
• a primitive array reference of the same type

An Object Array reference can be converted to:

• an Object reference
• a Cloneable interface reference
• a super-class Array reference, including an Object Array
reference
• any sub-class Array reference with casting, with runtime check
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 5 Flow Control and Exceptions

• Unreachable statements produce a compile-time error.

while (false) { x = 3; } // won’t compile
for (;false;) { x =3; } // won’t compile
if (false) {x = 3; } // will compile, to provide the ability to
conditionally compile the code.
• Local variables already declared in an enclosing block, therefore visible
in a nested block cannot be re-declared inside the nested block.
• A local variable in a block may be re-declared in another local block, if
the blocks are disjoint.
• Method parameters cannot be re-declared.

1. Loop constructs
• 3 constructs – for, while, do
• All loops are controlled by a boolean expression.
• In while and for, the test occurs at the top, so if the test fails at
the first time, body of the loop might not be executed at all.
• In do, test occurs at the bottom, so the body is executed at least
once.
• In for, we can declare multiple variables in the first part of the
loop separated by commas, also we can have multiple statements in
the third part separated by commas.
• In the first section of for statement, we can have a list of
declaration statements or a list of expression statements, but not both.
We cannot mix them.
• All expressions in the third section of for statement will always
execute, even if the first expression makes the loop condition false.
There is no short –circuit here.

2. Selection Statements
• if takes a boolean arguments. Parenthesis required. else part is
optional. else if structure provides multiple selective branching.
• switch takes an argument of byte, short, char or int.(assignment
compatible to int)
• case value should be a constant expression that can be
evaluated at compile time.
• Compiler checks each case value against the range of the switch
expression’s data type. The following code won’t compile.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

byte b;
switch (b) {
case 200: // 200 not in range of byte
default:
}
• We need to place a break statement in each case block to
prevent the execution to fall through other case blocks. But this is not
a part of switch statement and not enforced by the compiler.
• We can have multiple case statements execute the same code.
Just list them one by one.
• default case can be placed anywhere. It’ll be executed only if
none of the case values match.
• switch can be nested. Nested case labels are independent, don’t
clash with outer case labels.
• Empty switch construct is a valid construct. But any statement
within the switch block should come under a case label or the default
case label.

3. Branching statements
• break statement can be used with any kind of loop or a switch
statement or just a labeled block.
• continue statement can be used with only a loop (any kind of
loop).
• Loops can have labels. We can use break and continue
statements to branch out of multiple levels of nested loops using
labels.
• Names of the labels follow the same rules as the name of the
variables.(Identifiers)
• Labels can have the same name, as long as they don’t enclose
one another.
• There is no restriction against using the same identifier as a
label and as the name of a package, class, interface, method, field,
parameter, or local variable.

4. Exception Handling
• An exception is an event that occurs during the execution of a
program that disrupts the normal flow of instructions.
• There are 3 main advantages for exceptions:
1. Separates error handling code from “regular” code
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

2. Propagating errors up the call stack (without tedious programming)

3. Grouping error types and error differentiation
• An exception causes a jump to the end of try block. If the
exception occurred in a method called from a try block, the called
method is abandoned.
• If there’s a catch block for the occurred exception or a parent
class of the exception, the exception is now considered handled.
• At least one ‘catch’ block or one ‘finally’ block must
accompany a ‘try’ statement. If all 3 blocks are present, the order is
important. (try/catch/finally)
• finally and catch can come only with try, they cannot appear on
their own.
• Regardless of whether or not an exception occurred or whether
or not it was handled, if there is a finally block, it’ll be executed
always. (Even if there is a return statement in try block).
• System.exit() and error conditions are the only exceptions
where finally block is not executed.
• If there was no exception or the exception was handled,
execution continues at the statement after the try/catch/finally blocks.
• If the exception is not handled, the process repeats looking for
next enclosing try block up the call hierarchy. If this search reaches
the top level of the hierarchy (the point at which the thread was
created), then the thread is killed and message stack trace is dumped
to System.err.
• Use throw new xxxException() to throw an exception. If the
thrown object is null, a NullPointerException will be thrown at the
handler.
• If an exception handler re-throws an exception (throw in a catch
block), same rules apply. Either you need to have a try/catch within
the catch or specify the entire method as throwing the exception that’s
being re-thrown in the catch block. Catch blocks at the same level will
not handle the exceptions thrown in a catch block – it needs its own
handlers.
• The method fillInStackTrace() in Throwable class throws a
Throwable object. It will be useful when re-throwing an exception or
error.
• The Java language requires that methods either catch or specify
all checked exceptions that can be thrown within the scope of that
method.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• All objects of type java.lang.Exception are checked exceptions.

(Except the classes under java.lang.RuntimeException) If any method
that contains lines of code that might throw checked exceptions,
compiler checks whether you’ve handled the exceptions or you’ve
declared the methods as throwing the exceptions. Hence the name
checked exceptions.
• If there’s no code in try block that may throw exceptions
specified in the catch blocks, compiler will produce an error. (This is
not the case for super-class Exception)
• Java.lang.RuntimeException and java.lang.Error need not be
handled or declared.
• An overriding method may not throw a checked exception
unless the overridden method also throws that exception or a super-
class of that exception. In other words, an overriding method may not
throw checked exceptions that are not thrown by the overridden
method. If we allow the overriding methods in sub-classes to throw
more general exceptions than the overridden method in the parent
class, then the compiler has no way of checking the exceptions the
sub-class might throw. (If we declared a parent class variable and at
runtime it refers to sub-class object) This violates the concept of
checked exceptions and the sub-classes would be able to by-pass the
enforced checks done by the compiler for checked exceptions. This
should not be allowed.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Here is the exception hierarchy.

Object
|
|
Throwable
| |
| |
| |
| Error
|
|
Exception-->ClassNotFoundException, ClassNotSupportedException,
IllegalAccessException, InstantiationException, IterruptedException,
NoSuchMethodException, RuntimeException, AWTException, IOException

RuntimeException-->EmptyStackException, NoSuchElementException,
ArithmeticException, ArrayStoreException, ClassCastException,
IllegalArgumentException, IllegalMonitorStateException,
IndexOutOfBoundsException, NegativeArraySizeException,
NullPointerException, SecurityException.

IllegalArgumentException-->IllegalThreadStateException,
NumberFormatException

IndexOutOfBoundsException-->ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException,
StringIndexOutOfBoundsException

IOException-->EOFException, FileNotFoundException,
InterruptedIOException, UTFDataFormatException,
MalformedURLException, ProtocolException, SockException,
UnknownHostException, UnknownServiceException.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 6 Objects and Classes

Implementing OO relationships
• “is a” relationship is implemented by inheritance (extends
keyword)
• “has a” relationship is implemented by providing the class with
member variables.

Overloading and Overriding

• Overloading is an example of polymorphism. (operational /
parametric)
• Overriding is an example of runtime polymorphism (inclusive)
• A method can have the same name as another method in the
same class, provided it forms either a valid overload or override

Overloading Overriding
Signature has to be different. Just a Signature has to be the same.
difference in return type is not (including the return type)
enough.
Accessibility may vary freely. Overriding methods cannot be more
private than the overridden methods.
Exception list may vary freely. Overriding methods may not throw
more checked exceptions than the
overridden methods.
Just the name is reused. Methods Related directly to sub-classing.
are independent methods. Resolved Overrides the parent class method.
at compile-time based on method Resolved at run-time based on type of
signature. the object.
Can call each other by providing Overriding method can call overridden
appropriate argument list. method by super.methodName(), this
can be used only to access the
immediate super-class’s method.
super.super won’t work. Also, a class
outside the inheritance hierarchy can’t
use this technique.
Methods can be static or non-static. static methods don’t participate in
Since the methods are independent, overriding, since they are resolved at
it doesn’t matter. But if two compile time based on the type of
methods have the same signature, reference variable. A static method in
declaring one as static and another a sub-class can’t use ‘super’ (for the
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

as non-static does not provide a same reason that it can’t use ‘this’ for)
valid overload. It’s a compile time
error. Remember that a static method can’t
be overridden to be non-static and a
non-static method can’t be overridden
to be static. In other words, a static
method and a non-static method
cannot have the same name and
signature (if signatures are different, it
would have formed a valid overload)
There’s no limit on number of Each parent class method may be
overloaded methods a class can overridden at most once in any sub-
have. class. (That is, you cannot have two
identical methods in the same class)

• Variables can also be overridden, it’s known as shadowing or

hiding. But, member variable references are resolved at compile-
time. So at the runtime, if the class of the object referred by a
parent class reference variable, is in fact a sub-class having a
shadowing member variable, only the parent class variable is
accessed, since it’s already resolved at compile time based on the
reference variable type. Only methods are resolved at run-time.

public class Shadow {

public static void main(String s[]) {
S1 s1 = new S1();
S2 s2 = new S2();

System.out.println(s1.s); // prints S1
System.out.println(s1.getS()); // prints S1

System.out.println(s2.s); // prints S2
System.out.println(s2.getS()); // prints S2

s1 = s2;

System.out.println(s1.s); // prints S1, not S2 -

// since variable is resolved at
compile time
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

System.out.println(s1.getS()); // prints S2 -
// since method is resolved at run
time
}
}

class S1 {
public String s = "S1";

public String getS() {

return s;
}
}

class S2 extends S1{

public String s = "S2";

public String getS() {

return s;
}
}
In the above code, if we didn’t have the overriding getS() method in
the sub-class and if we call the method from sub-class reference
variable, the method will return only the super-class member variable
value. For explanation, see the following point.

• Also, methods access variables only in context of the class of

the object they belong to. If a sub-class method calls explicitly a
super class method, the super class method always will access the
super-class variable. Super class methods will not access the
shadowing variables declared in subclasses because they don’t
know about them. (When an object is created, instances of all its
super-classes are also created.) But the method accessed will be
again subject to dynamic lookup. It is always decided at runtime
which implementation is called. (Only static methods are resolved
at compile-time)

public class Shadow2 {

Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

String s = "main";
public static void main(String s[]) {
S2 s2 = new S2();
s2.display(); // Produces an output – S1, S2

S1 s1 = new S1();
System.out.println(s1.getS()); // prints S1
System.out.println(s2.getS()); // prints S1 – since
super-class method
// always accesses super-class
variable

}
}

class S1 {
String s = "S1";
public String getS() {
return s;
}
void display() {
System.out.println(s);
}
}

class S2 extends S1{

String s = "S2";
void display() {
super.display(); // Prints S1
System.out.println(s); // prints S2
}
}

• With OO languages, the class of the object may not be known

at compile-time (by virtue of inheritance). JVM from the start is
designed to support OO. So, the JVM insures that the method
called will be from the real class of the object (not with the
variable type declared). This is accomplished by virtual method
invocation (late binding). Compiler will form the argument list and
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

produce one method invocation instruction – its job is over. The

job of identifying and calling the proper target code is performed
by JVM.
• JVM knows about the variable’s real type at any time since
when it allocates memory for an object, it also marks the type with
it. Objects always know ‘who they are’. This is the basis of
instanceof operator.
• Sub-classes can use super keyword to access the shadowed
variables in super-classes. This technique allows for accessing only
the immediate super-class. super.super is not valid. But casting the
‘this’ reference to classes up above the hierarchy will do the trick.
By this way, variables in super-classes above any level can be
accessed from a sub-class, since variables are resolved at compile
time, when we cast the ‘this’ reference to a super-super-class, the
compiler binds the super-super-class variable. But this technique is
not possible with methods since methods are resolved always at
runtime, and the method gets called depends on the type of object,
not the type of reference variable. So it is not at all possible to
access a method in a super-super-class from a subclass.

public class ShadowTest {

public static void main(String s[]){
new STChild().demo();
}
}
class STGrandParent {
double wealth = 50000.00;
public double getWealth() {
System.out.println("GrandParent-" +
wealth);
return wealth;
}
}
class STParent extends STGrandParent {
double wealth = 100000.00;
public double getWealth() {
System.out.println("Parent-" + wealth);
return wealth;
}
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

}
class STChild extends STParent {
double wealth = 200000.00;

public double getWealth() {

System.out.println("Child-" + wealth);
return wealth;
}

public void demo() {

getWealth(); // Calls Child method
super.getWealth(); // Calls Parent
method
// Compiler error, GrandParent method
cannot be accessed
//super.super.getWealth();
// Calls Child method, due to dynamic
method lookup
((STParent)this).getWealth();
// Calls Child method, due to dynamic
method lookup
((STGrandParent)this).getWealth();

System.out.println(wealth); // Prints
Child wealth
System.out.println(super.wealth); //
Prints Parent wealth
// Prints Parent wealth
System.out.println(((STParent)
(this)).wealth);
// Prints GrandParent wealth
System.out.println(((STGrandParent)
(this)).wealth);
}
}

• An inherited method, which was not abstract on the super-class,

can be declared abstract in a sub-class (thereby making the sub-
class abstract). There is no restriction. In the same token, a
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

subclass can be declared abstract regardless of whether the super-

class was abstract or not.
• Private members are not inherited, but they do exist in the sub-
classes. Since the private methods are not inherited, they cannot be
overridden. A method in a subclass with the same signature as a
private method in the super-class is essentially a new method,
independent from super-class, since the private method in the
super-class is not visible in the sub-class.

public class PrivateTest {

public static void main(String s[]){
new PTSuper().hi(); // Prints always Super
new PTSub().hi(); // Prints Super when
subclass doesn't have hi method
// Prints Sub when subclass has hi
method
PTSuper sup;
sup = new PTSub();
sup.hi(); // Prints Super when subclass doesn't
have hi method
// Prints Sub when subclass has hi method
}
}

class PTSuper {
public void hi() { // Super-class implementation
always calls superclass hello
hello();
}
private void hello() { // This method is not inherited
by subclasses, but exists in them.
// Commenting out both the methods in the
subclass show this.
// The test will then print "hello-Super" for
all three calls
// i.e. Always the super-class
implementations are called
System.out.println("hello-Super");
}
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

class PTSub extends PTSuper {

public void hi() { // This method overrides super-
class hi, calls subclass hello
try {
hello();
}
catch(Exception e) {}

void hello() throws Exception { // This method is

independent from super-class hello
// Evident from, it's allowed to throw
Exception
System.out.println("hello-Sub");
}
}

• Private methods are not overridden, so calls to private methods

are resolved at compile time and not subject to dynamic method
lookup. See the following example.

public class Poly {

public static void main(String args[]) {
PolyA ref1 = new PolyC();
PolyB ref2 = (PolyB)ref1;

System.out.println(ref2.g()); // This prints 1

// If f() is not private in PolyB,
then prints 2
}
}

class PolyA {
private int f() { return 0; }
public int g() { return 3; }
}
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

class PolyB extends PolyA {

private int f() { return 1; }
public int g() { return f(); }
}

class PolyC extends PolyB {

public int f() { return 2; }
}

Constructors and Sub-classing

• Constructors are not inherited as normal methods, they have to
be defined in the class itself.
• If you define no constructors at all, then the compiler provides a
default constructor with no arguments. Even if, you define one
constructor, this default is not provided.
• We can’t compile a sub-class if the immediate super-class
doesn’t have a no argument default constructor, and sub-class
constructors are not calling super or this explicitly (and expect the
compiler to insert an implicit super() call )
• A constructor can call other overloaded constructors by ‘this
(arguments)’. If you use this, it must be the first statement in the
constructor. This construct can be used only from within a
constructor.
• A constructor can’t call the same constructor from within.
Compiler will say ‘ recursive constructor invocation’
• A constructor can call the parent class constructor explicitly by
using ‘super (arguments)’. If you do this, it must be first the
statement in the constructor. This construct can be used only from
within a constructor.
• Obviously, we can’t use both this and super in the same
constructor. If compiler sees a this or super, it won’t insert a
default call to super().
• Constructors can’t have a return type. A method with a class
name, but with a return type is not considered a constructor, but
just a method by compiler. Expect trick questions using this.
• Constructor body can have an empty return statement. Though
void cannot be specified with the constructor signature, empty
return statement is acceptable.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Only modifiers that a constructor can have are the accessibility

modifiers.
• Constructors cannot be overridden, since they are not inherited.
• Initializers are used in initialization of objects and classes and
to define constants in interfaces. These initializers are :
1. Static and Instance variable initializer expressions.
Literals and method calls to initialize variables. Static
variables can be initialized
only by static method calls.
Cannot pass on the checked exceptions. Must catch and
handle them.
2. Static initializer blocks.
Used to initialize static variables and load native libraries.
Cannot pass on the checked exceptions. Must catch and
handle them.
3. Instance initializer blocks.
Used to factor out code that is common to all the
constructors.
Also useful with anonymous classes since they cannot have
constructors.
All constructors must declare the uncaught checked
exceptions, if any.
Instance Initializers in anonymous classes can throw any
exception.
• In all the initializers, forward referencing of variables is not
allowed. Forward referencing of methods is allowed.
• Order of code execution (when creating an object) is a bit
tricky.
1. static variables initialization.
2. static initializer block execution. (in the order of declaration, if
multiple blocks found)
3. constructor header ( super or this – implicit or explicit )
4. instance variables initialization / instance initializer block(s)
execution
5. rest of the code in the constructor

Interfaces
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• All methods in an interface are implicitly public, abstract, and

never static.
• All variables in an interface are implicitly static, public, final.
They cannot be transient or volatile. A class can shadow the
variables it inherits from an interface, with its own variables.
• A top-level interface itself cannot be declared as static or final
since it doesn’t make sense.
• Declaring parameters to be final is at method’s discretion, this
is not part of method signature.
• Same case with final, synchronized, native. Classes can declare
the methods to be final, synchronized or native whereas in an
interface they cannot be specified like that. (These are
implementation details, interface need not worry about this)
• But classes cannot implement an interface method with a static
method.
• If an interface specifies an exception list for a method, then the
class implementing the interface need not declare the method with
the exception list. (Overriding methods can specify sub-set of
overridden method’s exceptions, here none is a sub-set). But if the
interface didn’t specify any exception list for a method, then the
class cannot throw any exceptions.
• All interface methods should have public accessibility when
implemented in class.
• Interfaces cannot be declared final, since they are implicitly
abstract.
• A class can implement two interfaces that have a method with
the same signature or variables with the same name.

Inner Classes
• A class can be declared in any scope. Classes defined inside of
other classes are known as nested classes. There are four
categories of nested classes.

1. Top-level nested classes / interfaces

• Declared as a class member with static modifier.
• Just like other static features of a class. Can be accessed /
instantiated without an instance of the outer class. Can access
only static members of outer class. Can’t access instance
variables or methods.
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Very much like any-other package level class / interface.

Provide an extension to packaging by the modified naming
scheme at the top level.
• Classes can declare both static and non-static members.
• Any accessibility modifier can be specified.
• Interfaces are implicitly static (static modifier also can be
specified). They can have any accessibility modifier. There are
no non-static inner, local or anonymous interfaces.

2. Non-static inner classes

• Declared as a class member without static.
• An instance of a non-static inner class can exist only with
an instance of its enclosing class. So it always has to be created
within a context of an outer instance.
• Just like other non-static features of a class. Can access
all the features (even private) of the enclosing outer class. Have
an implicit reference to the enclosing instance.
• Cannot have any static members.
• Can have any access modifier.

3. Local classes
• Defined inside a block (could be a method, a constructor,
a local block, a static initializer or an instance initializer).
Cannot be specified with static modifier.
• Cannot have any access modifier (since they are
effectively local to the block)
• Cannot declare any static members.(Even declared in a
static context)
• Can access all the features of the enclosing class (because
they are defined inside the method of the class) but can access
only final variables defined inside the method (including
method arguments). This is because the class can outlive the
method, but the method local variables will go out of scope – in
case of final variables, compiler makes a copy of those
variables to be used by the class. (New meaning for final)
• Since the names of local classes are not visible outside
the local context, references of these classes cannot be declared
outside. So their functionality could be accessed only via super-
class references (either interfaces or classes). Objects of those
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

class types are created inside methods and returned as super-

class type references to the outside world. This is the reason
that they can only access final variables within the local block.
That way, the value of the variable can be always made
available to the objects returned from the local context to
outside world.
• Cannot be specified with static modifier. But if they are
declared inside a static context such as a static method or a
static initializer, they become static classes. They can only
access static members of the enclosing class and local final
variables. But this doesn’t mean they cannot access any non-
static features inherited from super classes. These features are
their own, obtained via the inheritance hierarchy. They can be
accessed normally with ‘this’ or ‘super’.

4. Anonymous classes
• Anonymous classes are defined where they are
constructed. They can be created wherever a reference
expression can be used.
• Anonymous classes cannot have explicit constructors.
Instance initializers can be used to achieve the functionality of a
constructor.
• Typically used for creating objects on the fly.
• Anonymous classes can implement an interface (implicit
extension of Object) or explicitly extend a class. Cannot do
both.
Syntax: new interface name() { } or new class name()
{}
• Keywords “implements” and “extends” are not used in
anonymous classes.
• Abstract classes can be specified in the creation of an
anonymous class. The new class is a concrete class, which
automatically extends the abstract class.
• Discussion for local classes on static/non-static context,
accessing enclosing variables, and declaring static variables
also holds good for anonymous classes. In other words,
anonymous classes cannot be specified with static, but based on
the context, they could become static classes. In any case,
anonymous classes are not allowed to declare static members.
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Based on the context, non-static/static features of outer classes

are available to anonymous classes. Local final variables are
always available to them.

• One enclosing class can have multiple instances of inner

classes.
• Inner classes can have synchronous methods. But calling those
methods obtains the lock for inner object only not the outer object.
If you need to synchronize an inner class method based on outer
object, outer object lock must be obtained explicitly. Locks on
inner object and outer object are independent.
• Nested classes can extend any class or can implement any
interface. No restrictions.
• All nested classes (except anonymous classes) can be abstract
or final.
• Classes can be nested to any depth. Top-level static classes can
be nested only within other static top-level classes or interfaces.
Deeply nested classes also have access to all variables of the outer-
most enclosing class (as well the immediate enclosing class’s)
• Member inner classes can be forward referenced. Local inner
classes cannot be.
• An inner class variable can shadow an outer class variable. In
this case, an outer class variable can be referred as
(outerclassname.this.variablename).
• Outer class variables are accessible within the inner class, but
they are not inherited. They don’t become members of the inner
class. This is different from inheritance. (Outer class cannot be
referred using ‘super’, and outer class variables cannot be accessed
using ‘this’)
• An inner class variable can shadow an outer class variable. If
the inner class is sub-classed within the same outer class, the
variable has to be qualified explicitly in the sub-class. To fully
qualify the variable, use classname.this.variablename. If we don’t
correctly qualify the variable, a compiler error will occur. (Note
that this does not happen in multiple levels of inheritance where an
upper-most super-class’s variable is silently shadowed by the most
recent super-class variable or in multiple levels of nested inner
classes where an inner-most class’s variable silently shadows an
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

outer-most class’s variable. Problem comes only when these two

hierarchy chains (inheritance and containment) clash.)
• If the inner class is sub-classed outside of the outer class (only
possible with top-level nested classes) explicit qualification is not
needed (it becomes regular class inheritance)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

// Example 1

public class InnerInnerTest {

public static void main(String s[]) {
new Outer().new Inner().new InnerInner().new
InnerInnerInner().doSomething();
new Outer().new InnerChild().doSomething();
new Outer2().new Inner2().new
InnerInner2().doSomething();
new InnerChild2().doSomething();

}
}

class Outer {
String name = "Vel";

class Inner {
String name = "Sharmi";

class InnerInner {

class InnerInnerInner {

public void doSomething() {

// No problem in accessing without full

qualification,
// inner-most class variable shadows the outer-
most class variable
System.out.println(name); // Prints "Sharmi"
System.out.println(Outer.this.name); // Prints "Vel",
explicit reference to Outer

// error, variable is not inherited from the outer class, it can

be just accessible
// System.out.println(this.name);
// System.out.println(InnerInner.this.name);
// System.out.println(InnerInnerInner.this.name);
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

// error, super cannot be used to access outer class.

// super will always refer the parent, in this case Object
// System.out.println(super.name);

System.out.println(Inner.this.name); // Prints
"Sharmi", Inner has declared 'name'
}
}
}
}

/* This is an inner class extending an inner class in the

same scope */
class InnerChild extends Inner {
public void doSomething() {
// compiler error, explicit qualifier needed
// 'name' is inherited from Inner, Outer's 'name' is also in
scope
// System.out.println(name);
System.out.println(Outer.this.name); // prints "Vel",
explicit reference to Outer
System.out.println(super.name); // prints "Sharmi", Inner
has declared 'name'
System.out.println(this.name); // prints "Sharmi", name is
inherited by InnerChild
}
}
}

class Outer2 {
static String name = "Vel";
static class Inner2 {
static String name = "Sharmi";

class InnerInner2 {
public void doSomething() {
System.out.println(name); // prints "Sharmi", inner-most
hides outer-most
System.out.println(Outer2.name); // prints "Vel", explicit
reference to Outer2's static variable
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

// System.out.println(this.name); // error, 'name' is not

inherited
// System.out.println(super.name); // error, super refers to
Object
}
}
}

/* This is a stand-alone class extending an inner class */

class InnerChild2 extends Outer2.Inner2 {
public void doSomething() {
System.out.println(name); // prints "Sharmi", Inner2's
name is inherited
System.out.println(Outer2.name); // prints "Vel", explicit
reference to Outer2's static variable
System.out.println(super.name); // prints "Sharmi",
Inner2 has declared 'name'
System.out.println(this.name); // prints "Sharmi", name is
inherited by InnerChild2
}
}

// Example 2

public class InnerTest2 {

public static void main(String s[]) {

new OuterClass().doSomething(10, 20);

// This is legal
// OuterClass.InnerClass ic = new OuterClass().new
InnerClass();
// ic.doSomething();

// Compiler error, local inner classes cannot be accessed

from outside
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

// OuterClass.LocalInnerClass lic = new

OuterClass().new LocalInnerClass();
// lic.doSomething();

new OuterClass().doAnonymous();

}
}

class OuterClass {
final int a = 100;
private String secret = "Nothing serious";

public void doSomething(int arg, final int fa) {

final int x = 100;
int y = 200;

System.out.println(this.getClass() + " - in
doSomething");
System.out.print("a = " + a + " secret = " + secret + "
arg = " + arg + " fa = " + fa);
System.out.println(" x = " + x + " y = " + y);

// Compiler error, forward reference of local inner class

// new LocalInnerClass().doSomething();

abstract class AncestorLocalInnerClass { } // inner

class can be abstract

final class LocalInnerClass extends

AncestorLocalInnerClass { // can be final
public void doSomething() {
System.out.println(this.getClass() + " - in
doSomething");
System.out.print("a = " + a );
System.out.print(" secret = " + secret);
// System.out.print(" arg = " + arg); // Compiler
error, accessing non-final argument
System.out.print(" fa = " + fa);
System.out.println(" x = " + x);
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

// System.out.println(" y = " + y); // Compiler error,

accessing non-final variable
}
}

new InnerClass().doSomething(); // forward

reference fine for member inner class
new LocalInnerClass().doSomething();
}

abstract class AncestorInnerClass { }

interface InnerInterface { final int someConstant =

999;} // inner interface

class InnerClass extends AncestorInnerClass

implements InnerInterface {
public void doSomething() {
System.out.println(this.getClass() + " - in
doSomething");
System.out.println("a = " + a + " secret = " + secret + "
someConstant = " + someConstant);
}
}

public void doAnonymous() {

// Anonymous class implementing the inner
interface
System.out.println((new InnerInterface()
{ }).someConstant);

// Anonymous class extending the inner class

( new InnerClass() {
public void doSomething() {
secret = "secret is changed";
super.doSomething();
}
} ).doSomething();
}
}
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Entity Declaratio Accessibil Outer Direct Access Defines static or

n Context ity instan to enclosing non-static
Modifiers ce context members
Package As package Public or No N/A Both static and
level class member default non-static
Top level As static All No Static members Both static and
nested class class in enclosing non-static
(static) member context
Non static As non- All Yes All members in Only non-static
inner class static class enclosing
member context
Local class In block None Yes All members in Only non-static
(non-static) with non- enclosing
static context + local
context final variables
Local class In block None No Static members Only non-static
(static) with static in enclosing
context context + local
final variables
Anonymous In block None Yes All members in Only non-static
class (non- with non- enclosing
static) static context + local
context final variables
Anonymous In block None No Static members Only non-static
class (static) with static in enclosing
context context + local
final variables
Package As package Public or No N/A Static variables
level member default and non-static
interface method
prototypes
Top level As static All No Static members Static variables
nested class in enclosing and non-static
interface member context method
(static) prototypes
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 7 Threads

• Java is fundamentally multi-threaded.

• Every thread corresponds to an instance of java.lang.Thread class or a
sub-class.
• A thread becomes eligible to run, when its start() method is called.
Thread scheduler co-ordinates between the threads and allows them to
run.
• When a thread begins execution, the scheduler calls its run method.
Signature of run method – public void run()
• When a thread returns from its run method (or stop method is called –
deprecated in 1.2), its dead. It cannot be restarted, but its methods can be
called. (it’s just an object no more in a running state)
• If start is called again on a dead thread, IllegalThreadStateException is
thrown.
• When a thread is in running state, it may move out of that state for
various reasons. When it becomes eligible for execution again, thread
scheduler allows it to run.
• There are two ways to implement threads.
1. Extend Thread class
• Create a new class, extending the Thread class.
• Provide a public void run method, otherwise empty run in
Thread class will be executed.
• Create an instance of the new class.
• Call start method on the instance (don’t call run – it will be
executed on the same thread)

2. Implement Runnable interface

• Create a new class implementing the Runnable interface.
• Provide a public void run method.
• Create an instance of this class.
• Create a Thread, passing the instance as a target – new
Thread(object)
• Target should implement Runnable, Thread class implements it,
so it can be a target itself.
• Call the start method on the Thread.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• JVM creates one user thread for running a program. This thread is called
main thread. The main method of the class is called from the main thread.
It dies when the main method ends. If other user threads have been
spawned from the main thread, program keeps running even if main
thread dies. Basically a program runs until all the user threads (non-
daemon threads) are dead.
• A thread can be designated as a daemon thread by calling
setDaemon(boolean) method. This method should be called before the
thread is started, otherwise IllegalThreadStateException will be thrown.
• A thread spawned by a daemon thread is a daemon thread.
• Threads have priorities. Thread class have constants MAX_PRIORITY
(10), MIN_PRIORITY (1), NORM_PRIORITY (5)
• A newly created thread gets its priority from the creating thread.
Normally it’ll be NORM_PRIORITY.
• getPriority and setPriority are the methods to deal with priority of
threads.
• Java leaves the implementation of thread scheduling to JVM developers.

• Two types of scheduling can be done :

1. Pre-emptive Scheduling.
Ways for a thread to leave running state -
• It can cease to be ready to execute ( by calling a blocking i/o
method)
• It can get pre-empted by a high-priority thread, which becomes
ready to execute.
• It can explicitly call a thread-scheduling method such as wait or
suspend.

• Solaris JVM’s are pre-emptive.

• Windows JVM’s were pre-emptive until Java 1.0.2

2. Time-sliced or Round Robin Scheduling

• A thread is only allowed to execute for a certain amount of
time. After that, it has to contend for the CPU (virtual CPU, JVM)
time with other threads.
• This prevents a high-priority thread monopolizing the CPU.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• The drawback with this scheduling is – it creates a non-

deterministic system – at any point in time, you cannot tell which
thread is running and how long it may continue to run.

• Mactinosh JVM’s
• Windows JVM’s after Java 1.0.2

• Different states of a thread:

1. Yielding
• Yield is a static method. Operates on current thread.
• Moves the thread from running to ready state.
• If there are no threads in ready state, the yielded thread may
continue execution; otherwise it may have to compete with the other
threads to run.
• Run the threads that are doing time-consuming operations with
a low priority and call yield periodically from those threads to avoid
those threads locking up the CPU.
2. Sleeping
• Sleep is also a static method.
• Sleeps for a certain amount of time. (passing time without
doing anything and w/o using CPU)
• Two overloaded versions – one with milliseconds, one with
milliseconds and nanoseconds.
• Throws an InterruptedException.(must be caught)
• After the time expires, the sleeping thread goes to ready state. It
may not execute immediately after the time expires. If there are other
threads in ready state, it may have to compete with those threads to
run. The correct statement is the sleeping thread would execute some
time after the specified time period has elapsed.
• If interrupt method is invoked on a sleeping thread, the thread
moves to ready state. The next time it begins running, it executes the
InterruptedException handler.
3. Suspending
• Suspend and resume are instance methods and are deprecated in
1.2
• A thread that receives a suspend call, goes to suspended state
and stays there until it receives a resume call on it.
• A thread can suspend it itself, or another thread can suspend it.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• But, a thread can be resumed only by another thread.

• Calling resume on a thread that is not suspended has no effect.
• Compiler won’t warn you if suspend and resume are successive
statements, although the thread may not be able to be restarted.
4. Blocking
• Methods that are performing I/O have to wait for some
occurrence in the outside world to happen before they can proceed.
This behavior is blocking.
• If a method needs to wait an indeterminable amount of time
until some I/O takes place, then the thread should graciously step out
of the CPU. All Java I/O methods behave this way.
• A thread can also become blocked, if it failed to acquire the
lock of a monitor.
5. Waiting
• wait, notify and notifyAll methods are not called on Thread,
they’re called on Object. Because the object is the one which controls
the threads in this case. It asks the threads to wait and then notifies
when its state changes. It’s called a monitor.
• Wait puts an executing thread into waiting state.(to the
monitor’s waiting pool)
• Notify moves one thread in the monitor’s waiting pool to ready
state. We cannot control which thread is being notified. notifyAll is
recommended.
• NotifyAll moves all threads in the monitor’s waiting pool to
ready.
• These methods can only be called from synchronized code, or
an IllegalMonitorStateException will be thrown. In other words, only
the threads that obtained the object’s lock can call these methods.

Locks, Monitors and Synchronization

• Every object has a lock (for every synchronized code block). At any
moment, this lock is controlled by at most one thread.
• A thread that wants to execute an object’s synchronized code must
acquire the lock of the object. If it cannot acquire the lock, the thread
goes into blocked state and comes to ready only when the object’s lock is
available.
• When a thread, which owns a lock, finishes executing the synchronized
code, it gives up the lock.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Monitor (a.k.a Semaphore) is an object that can block and revive threads,
an object that controls client threads. Asks the client threads to wait and
notifies them when the time is right to continue, based on its state. In
strict Java terminology, any object that has some synchronized code is a
monitor.
• 2 ways to synchronize:
1. Synchronize the entire method
• Declare the method to be synchronized - very common practice.
• Thread should obtain the object’s lock.
2. Synchronize part of the method
• Have to pass an arbitrary object which lock is to be obtained to
execute the synchronized code block (part of a method).
• We can specify “this” in place object, to obtain very brief
locking – not very common.

• wait – points to remember

 calling thread gives up CPU
 calling thread gives up the lock
 calling thread goes to monitor’s waiting pool
 wait also has a version with timeout in milliseconds. Use this if
you’re not sure when the current thread will get notified, this avoids
the thread being stuck in wait state forever.
• notify – points to remember
 one thread gets moved out of monitor’s waiting pool to ready
state
 notifyAll moves all the threads to ready state
 Thread gets to execute must re-acquire the lock of the monitor
before it can proceed.

• Note the differences between blocked and waiting.

Blocked Waiting
Thread is waiting to get a lock on Thread has been asked to wait. (by
the monitor. means of wait method)
(or waiting for a blocking i/o
method)
Caused by the thread tried to The thread already acquired the lock
execute some synchronized code. and executed some synchronized
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

(or a blocking i/o method) code before coming across a wait

call.
Can move to ready only when the Can move to ready only when it gets
lock is available. ( or the i/o notified (by means of notify or
operation is complete) notifyAll)

• Points for complex models:

1. Always check monitor’s state in a while loop, rather than in an if
statement.
2. Always call notifyAll, instead of notify.
• Class locks control the static methods.
• wait and sleep must be enclosed in a try/catch for InterruptedException.
• A single thread can obtain multiple locks on multiple objects (or on the
same object)
• A thread owning the lock of an object can call other synchronous
methods on the same object. (this is another lock) Other threads can’t do
that. They should wait to get the lock.
• Non-synchronous methods can be called at any time by any thread.
• Synchronous methods are re-entrant. So they can be called recursively.
• Synchronized methods can be overrided to be non-synchronous.
synchronized behavior affects only the original class.
• Locks on inner/outer objects are independent. Getting a lock on outer
object doesn’t mean getting the lock on an inner object as well, that lock
should be obtained separately.
• wait and notify should be called from synchronized code. This ensures
that while calling these methods the thread always has the lock on the
object. If you have wait/notify in non-synchronized code compiler won’t
catch this. At runtime, if the thread doesn’t have the lock while calling
these methods, an IllegalMonitorStateException is thrown.
• Deadlocks can occur easily. e.g, Thread A locked Object A and waiting
to get a lock on Object B, but Thread B locked Object B and waiting to
get a lock on Object A. They’ll be in this state forever.
• It’s the programmer’s responsibility to avoid the deadlock. Always get
the locks in the same order.
• While ‘suspended’, the thread keeps the locks it obtained – so suspend is
deprecated in 1.2
• Use of stop is also deprecated, instead use a flag in run method. Compiler
won’t warn you, if you have statements after a call to stop, even though
they are not reachable.
Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 8 java.lang package

• Object class is the ultimate ancestor of all classes. If there is no extends

clause, compiler inserts ‘extends object’. The following methods are
defined in Object class. All methods are public, if not specified
otherwise.

Method Description
boolean equals(Object o) just does a == comparison, override in descendents to provide
meaningful comparison
final native void wait() Thread control. Two other versions of wait() accept timeout
final native void notify() parameters and may throw InterruptedException.
final native void
notifyAll()
native int hashcode() Returns a hash code value for the object.
If two objects are equal according to the equals method, then
calling the hashCode method on each of the two objects must
produce the same integer result.
protected Object clone() Creates a new object of the same class as this object. It then
throws initializes each of the new object's fields by assigning it the
CloneNotSupportedExce same value as the corresponding field in this object. No
ption constructor is called.
The clone method of class Object will only clone an object
CloneNotSupportedExce whose class indicates that it is willing for its instances to be
ption is a checked cloned. A class indicates that its instances can be cloned by
Exception declaring that it implements the Cloneable interface. Also the
method has to be made public to be called from outside the
class.
Arrays have a public clone method.
int ia[ ][ ] = { { 1 , 2}, null };
int ja[ ][ ] = (int[ ] [ ])ia.clone();
A clone of a multidimensional array is shallow, which is to
say that it creates only a single new array. Subarrays are
shared, so ia and ja are different but ia[0] and ja[0] are same.
final native Class Returns the runtime class of an object.
getClass()
String toString Returns the string representation of the object. Method in
Object returns a string consisting of the name of the class of
which the object is an instance, the at-sign character `@', and
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

the unsigned hexadecimal representation of the hash code of

the object. Override to provide useful information.
protected void finalize() Called by the garbage collector on an object when garbage
throws collection determines that there are no more references to the
Throwable object.
Any exception thrown by the finalize method causes the
finalization of this object to be halted, but is otherwise
ignored.
The finalize method in Object does nothing. A subclass
overrides the finalize method to dispose of system resources
or to perform other cleanup.

• Math class is final, cannot be sub-classed.

• Math constructor is private, cannot be instantiated.
• All constants and methods are public and static, just access using class
name.
• Two constants PI and E are specified.
• Methods that implement Trigonometry functions are native.
• All Math trig functions take angle input in radians.
Angle degrees * PI / 180 = Angle radians
• Order of floating/double values:
-Infinity --> Negative Numbers/Fractions --> -0.0 --> +0.0 --> Positive
Numbers/Fractions --> Infinity
• abs – int, long, float, double versions available
• floor – greatest integer smaller than this number (look below towards the
floor)
• ceil – smallest integer greater than this number (look above towards the
ceiling)
• For floor and ceil functions, if the argument is NaN or infinity or positive
zero or negative zero or already a value equal to a mathematical integer,
the result is the same as the argument.
• For ceil, if the argument is less than zero but greater than –1.0, then the
result is a negative zero
• random – returns a double between 0.0(including) and 1.0(excluding)
• round returns a long for double, returns an int for float. (closest int or
long value to the argument)
The result is rounded to an integer by adding ½ , taking the floor of the
result, and casting the result to type int / long.
(int)Math.floor(a + 0.5f)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

(long)Math.floor(a + 0.5d)
• double rint(double) returns closest double equivalent to a mathematical
integer. If two values are equal, it returns the even integer value. rint(2.7)
is 3, rint(2.5) is 2.
• Math.min(-0.0, +0.0) returns –0.0, Math.max(-0.0, +0.0) returns 0.0, -0.0
== +0.0 returns true.
• For a NaN or a negative argument, sqrt returns a NaN.

• Every primitive type has a wrapper class (some names are different –
Integer, Boolean, Character)
• Wrapper class objects are immutable.
• All Wrapper classes are final.
• All wrapper classes, except Character, have a constructor accepting
string. A Boolean object, created by passing a string, will have a value of
false for any input other than “true” (case doesn’t matter).
• Numeric wrapper constructors will throw a NumberFormatException, if
the passed string is not a valid number. (empty strings and null strings
also throw this exception)
• equals also tests the class of the object, so even if an Integer object and a
Long object are having the same value, equals will return false.
• NaN’s can be tested successfully with equals method.
Float f1 = new Float(Float.NaN);
Float f2 = new Float(Float.NaN);
System.out.println( ""+ (f1 == f2)+" "+f1.equals(f2)+ " "+
(Float.NaN == Float.NaN) );
The above code will print false true false.
• Numeric wrappers have 6 methods to return the numeric value –
intValue(), longValue(), etc.
• valueOf method parses an input string (optionally accepts a radix in case
of int and long) and returns a new instance of wrapper class, on which it
was invoked. It’s a static method. For empty/invalid/null strings it throws
a NumberFormatException. For null strings valueOf in Float and Double
classes throw NullPointerException.
• parseInt and parseLong return primitive int and long values respectively,
parsing a string (optionally a radix). Throw a NumberFormatException
for invalid/empty/null strings.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Numeric wrappers have overloaded toString methods, which accept

corresponding primitive values (also a radix in case of int,long) and
return a string.
• Void class represents void primitive type. It’s not instantiable. Just a
placeholder class.

• Strings are immutable.

• They can be created from a literal, a byte array, a char array or a string
buffer.
• Literals are taken from pool (for optimization), so == will return true, if
two strings are pointing to the same literal.
• Anonymous String objects (literals) may have been optimized even
across classes.
• A String created by new operator is always a different new object, even if
it’s created from a literal.
• But a String can specify that its contents should be placed in a pool of
unique strings for possible reuse, by calling intern() method. In programs
that do a lot of String comparisons, ensuring that all Strings are in the
pool, allows to use == comparison rather than the equals() method, which
is slower.
• All string operations (concat, trim, replace, substring etc) construct and
return new strings.
• toUpperCase and toLowerCase will return the same string if no case
conversion was needed.
• equals takes an object (String class also has a version of equals that
accepts a String), equalsIgnoreCase takes a string.
• Passing null to indexOf or lastIndexOf will throw NullPointerException,
passing empty string returns 0, passing a string that’s not in the target
string returns –1.
• trim method removes all leading and trailing white-space from a String
and returns a new String. White-space means, all characters with value
less than or equal to the space character – ‘\u0020’.
• String class is final.
• + and += operators are overloaded for Strings.
• reverse, append, insert are not String methods.

• String Buffers are mutable strings.

• StringBuffer is a final class.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• They can be created empty, from a string or with a capacity. An empty

StringBuffer is created with 16-character capacity. A StringBuffer
created from a String has the capacity of the length of String + 16.
StringBuffers created with the specified capacity has the exact capacity
specified. Since they can grow dynamically in size without bounds,
capacity doesn’t have much effect.
• append, insert, setCharAt, reverse are used to manipulate the string
buffer.
• setLength changes the length, if the current content is larger than
specified length, it’s truncated. If it is smaller than the specified length,
nulls are padded. This method doesn’t affect the capacity.
• equals on StringBuffer does a shallow comparison. (same like ==) Will
return true only if the objects are same. Don’t use it to test content
equality
• trim is not a StringBuffer method.
• There is no relationship between String and StringBuffer. Both extend
Object class.

• String context means, ‘+’ operator appearing with one String operand.
String concatenation cannot be applied to StringBuffers.
• A new String buffer is created.
• All operands are appended (by calling toString method, if
needed)
• Finally a string is returned by calling toString on the String
Buffer.

• String concatenation process will add a string with the value of “null”, if
an object reference is null and that object is appearing in a concatenation
expression by itself. But if we try to access its members or methods, a
NullPointerException is thrown. The same is true for arrays, array name
is replaced with null, but trying to index it when it’s null throws a
NullPointerException.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 9 java.util package

• A collection (a.k.a bag or multiset) allows a group of objects to be treated

as a single unit. Arbitrary objects can be stored, retrieved and
manipulated as elements of these collections.
• Collections Framework presents a set of standard utility classes to
manage such collections.
1. It contains ‘core interfaces’ which allow collections to be manipulated
independent of their implementations. These interfaces define the
common functionality exhibited by collections and facilitate data
exchange between collections.
2. A small set of implementations that are concrete implementations of
the core interfaces, providing data structures that a program can use.
3. An assortment of algorithms to perform various operations such as,
sorting and searching.
• Collections framework is interface based, collections are implemented
according to their interface type, rather than by implementation types. By
using the interfaces whenever collections of objects need to be handled,
interoperability and interchangeability are achieved.
• By convention each of the collection implementation classes provide a
constructor to create a collection based on the elements in the Collection
object passed as argument. By the same token, Map implementations
provide a constructor that accepts a Map argument. This allows the
implementation of a collection (Collection/Map) to be changed. But
Collections and Maps are not interchangeable.

• Interfaces and their implementations in Java 1.2

Collection
|
|__ Set (no dupes, null allowed based on implementation) 
HashSet
| |

| |__ SortedSet (Ordered Set)  TreeSet

|
|__ List (ordered collection, dupes OK)  Vector, ArrayList,
LinkedList
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Map (key-value pairs, null allowed based on implementation) 

HashTable, HashMap
|
|__ SortedMap (Ordered Map)  TreeMap

Interface Description
Collection A basic interface that defines the operations that all the classes
that maintain collections of objects typically implement.
Set Extends Collection, sets that maintain unique elements. Set
interface is defined in terms of the equals operation
SortedSet Extends Set, maintain the elements in a sorted order
List Extends Collection, maintain elements in a sequential order,
duplicates allowed.
Map A basic interface that defines operations that classes that
represent mappings of keys to values typically implement
SortedMap Extends Map for maps that maintain their mappings in key order.

• Classes that implement the interfaces use different storage mechanisms.

1. Arrays
Indexed access is faster. Makes insertion, deletion and growing the store
more difficult.
2. Linked List
Supports insertion, deletion and growing the store. But indexed access is
slower.
3. Tree
Supports insertion, deletion and growing the store. Indexed access is
slower. But searching is faster.
4. Hashing
Supports insertion, deletion and growing the store. Indexed access is
slower. But searching is faster.
However, requires the use of unique keys for storing data elements.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Interfaces
Data Set Sorted List Map SortedM
Structure Set ap
s used to
impleme
nt
Hash Table HashSet HashMap
(Nulls (Nulls OK)
OK) HashTable (No
Nulls)
Resizable ArrayList
Array (Nulls OK)
Vector(Nulls
OK)
Balanced TreeSe TreeMap
Tree t
Linked List LinkedList
(Nulls OK)

• Some of the operations in the collection interfaces are optional, meaning

that the implementing class may choose not to provide a proper
implementation of such an operation. In such a case, an
UnsupportedOperationException is thrown when that operation is
invoked.

Interface Methods Description

Collect Basic int size(); Used to query a collection about
ion Operatio boolean isEmpty(); its contents, and add/remove
ns boolean contains(Object elements.
element);
boolean add(Object element); The add() and remove() methods
boolean remove(Object element); return true if the collection was
modified as a result of the
operation. The contains() method
checks for membership.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Bulk boolean containsAll(Collection Perform on a collection as a

Operatio c); single unit.
ns boolean addAll(Collection c); Operations are equivalent of set
boolean removeAll(Collection c); logic on arbitrary collections (not
boolean retainAll(Collection c); just sets). The addAll(),
void clear(); removeAll(), clear() and
retainAll() methods are
destructive.
Array Object[] toArray(); These methods combined with
Operatio Object[] toArray(Object a[]); Arrays.asList() method provide
ns the bridge between arrays and
collections.
Iterators Iterator iterator(); Returns an iterator, to iterate the
Iterator is an interface which has collection.
these methods.
boolean hasNext(); The remove() method is the only
Object next(); recommended way to remove
void remove(); elements from a collection
during the iteration.
The add() method returns false,
Set No new methods defined. if the element is already in the
Set. No exceptions are thrown.
List Object get(int index); First index is 0, last index is
Object set(int index, Object [size()–1]. An illegal index
element); throws
Element
void add(int index, Object IndexOutOfBoundsException.
Access
element);
by Index
Object remove(int index);
boolean addAll(int index,
Collection c);
Element int indexOf(Object o); If the element is not found,
Search int lastIndexOf(Object o); return –1.
List ListIterator listIterator(); ListIterator’s additional methods:
Iterators ListIterator listIterator(int index); Boolean hasPrevious();
Boolean previous();
ListIterator extends Iterator. It int nextIndex();
allows iteration in both int prviousIndex();
directions. void set(Object o);
void add(Object o);
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

List subList(int fromIndex, int Returns a range of the list from

Open toIndex); fromIndex (inclusive) to toIndex
Range (exclusive). Changes to view are
View reflected in the list and vice
versa.
Object put(Object key, Object The put method replaces the old
value); value, if the map previously
Object get(Object key); contained a mapping for that
Object remove(Object key); key.
Basic
boolean containsKey(Object The get method returns null, if
Operatio
key); the specified key couldn’t be
ns
boolean containsValue(Object found in the map.
value);
int size();
boolean isEmpty();
void putAll(Map t); putAll() adds all the elements
Bulk
void clear(); from the specified map.
Operatio
clear() removes all the elements
ns
Map from the map.
Set keySet(); Provide different views on a
Collection values(); Map. Changes to views are
Set entrySet(); reflected in the map and vice
versa.
Note that the values() method,
Collecti returns a Collection, not a set. Each <key,value> pair is
on Reason is, multiple unique keys represented by an Object
Views can map to the same value. implementing Map.Entry
interface.
Object getKey();
Object getValue();
Object setValue(Object
value);
SortedS Range SortedSet headSet(Object FromElement is inclusive,
et View toElement); toElement is exclusive. The
Operatio SortedSet tailSet(Object views present the elements
ns fromElement); sorted in the same order as the
SortedSet subSet(Object underlying sorted set.
fromElement, Object toElement);
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Min- Object first(); Return the first (lowest) and last

Max Object last(); (highest) elements.
Points
Compar Comparator comparator(); Returns the compartor associated
ator with this SortedSet, or null if it
Access uses natural ordering.
SortedMap headMap(Object SortedMap is sorted with keys.
Range toKey); fromKey is inclusive, toKey is
View SortedSet tailMap(Object exclusive. The views present the
Operatio fromKey); elements sorted in the same
ns SortedSet subMap(Object order as the underlying sorted
Sorted fromKey, Object toKey); map.
Map Min- Object firstKey(); Return the first (lowest) and last
Max Object lastKey(); (highest) keys.
Points
Compar Comparator comparator(); Returns the compartor associated
ator with this SortedMap, or null if it
Access uses natural ordering.

• Sorting in SortedSets and SortedMaps can be implemented in two ways.

1. Objects can specify their natural order by implementing
Comparable interface. Many of the standard classes in Java API,
such as wrapper classes, String, Date and File implement this
interface. This interface defines a single method:
int compareTo(Object o) – returns negative, zero, positive if the
current object is less than, equal to or greater than the specified
object.
In this case a natural comparator queries objects implementing
Comparable about their natural order. Objects implementing this
interface can be used:
• As elements in a sorted set.
• As keys in sorted map.
• In lists which can be sorted automatically by the
Collections.sort() method.
2. Objects can be sorted by specific comparators, which
implement Comparator interface. This interface defines the
following method:
int compare(Object o1, Object o2) – returns negative, zero,
positive if the first object is less than, equal to or greater than the
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

second object. It is recommended that its implementation doesn’t

contradict the semantics of the equals() method.
Specific Comparators can be specified in the constructors of
SortedSets and SortedMaps.
• All classes provide a constructor to create an empty collection
(corresponding to the class). HashSet, HashMap, HashTable can also be
specified with an initial capacity as well as a load factor (the ratio of
number of elements stored to its current capacity). Most of the time,
default values provide acceptable performance.
• A Vector, like an array, contains items that can be accessed using an
integer index. However, the size of a Vector can grow and shrink as
needed to accommodate adding and removing items after the Vector has
been created.
• Vector (5,10) means initial capacity 5, additional allocation (capacity
increment) by 10.
• Stack extends Vector and implements a LIFO stack. With the usual
push() and pop() methods, there is a peek() method to look at the object
at the top of the stack without removing it from the stack.
• Dictionary is an obsolete class. HashTable extends dictionary. Elements
are stored as key-value pairs.
• Vector and HashTable are the only classes that are thread-safe.
• ArrayList (does what Vector does), HashMap(does what HashTable
does), LinkedList and TreeMap are new classes in Java 1.2
• In Java 1.2, Iterator duplicates the functionality of Enumeration. New
implementations should consider Iterator.

• Collections is a class, Collection is an interface.

• Collections class consists exclusively of static methods that operate on or
return collections.
• Sorting and Searching algorithms in the Collections class.
static int binarySearch(List list, Object key)
static void fill(List list, Object o)
static void shuffle(List list, Object o)
static void sort(List list)
• Factory methods to provide thread-safety and data immutability. These
methods return synchronized (thread-safe) / immutable collections from
the specified collections.
List safeList = Collections.synchronizedList(new LinkedList());
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

SortedMap fixedMap = Collections.unmodifiableSortedMap(new

SortedMap());
• Constants to denote immutable empty collections in the Collections class:
EMPTY_SET, EMPTY_LIST and EMPTY_MAP.
• Collections class also has the following methods:

Method Description
public static Set Returns an immutable set containing only
singleton(Object o) the specified object
public static List Returns an immutable list containing only
singletonList(Object o) the specified object
public static Map Returns an immutable map containing only
singletonMap(Object key, the specified key, value pair.
Object value)
public static List nCopies (int Returns an immutable list consisting of n
n, Object o) copies of the specified object. The newly
allocated data object is tiny (it contains a
single reference to the data object). This
method is useful in combination with the
List.addAll method to grow lists.

• The class Arrays, provides useful algorithms that operate on arrays. It

also provides the static asList() method, which can be used to create List
views of arrays. Changes to the List view affects the array and vice versa.
The List size is the array size and cannot be modified. The asList()
method in the Arrays class and the toArray() method in the Collection
interface provide the bridge between arrays and collections.
Set mySet = new HashSet(Arrays.asList(myArray));
String[] strArray = (String[]) mySet.toArray();
• All concrete implementations of the interfaces in java.util package are
inherited from abstract implementations of the interfaces. For example,
HashSet extends AbstractSet, which extends AbstractCollection.
LinkedList extends AbstractList, which extends AbstractCollection.
These abstract implementations already provide most of the heavy
machinery by implementing relevant interfaces, so that customized
implementations of collections can be easily implemented using them.
• BitSet class implements a vector of bits that grows as needed. Each
component of the bit set has a boolean value. The bits of a BitSet are
indexed by nonnegative integers. Individual indexed bits can be
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

examined, set, or cleared. One BitSet may be used to modify the contents
of another BitSet through logical AND, logical inclusive OR, and logical
exclusive OR operations.

By default, all bits in the set initially have the value false. A BitSet has a
size of 64, when created without specifying any size.
• ConcurrentModificationException exception (extends
RuntimeException) may be thrown by methods that have detected
concurrent modification of a backing object when such modification is
not permissible.

For example, it is not permssible for one thread to modify a Collection

while another thread is iterating over it. In general, the results of the
iteration are undefined under these circumstances. Some Iterator
implementations (including those of all the collection implementations
provided by the JDK) may choose to throw this exception if this behavior
is detected. Iterators that do this are known as fail-fast iterators, as they
fail quickly and cleanly, rather than risking arbitrary, non-deterministic
behavior at an undetermined time in the future.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 10 Components
• Java’s building blocks for creating GUIs.
• All non-menu related components inherit from java.awt.Component, that
provides basic support for event handling, controlling component size,
color, font and drawing of components and their contents.
• Component class implements ImageObserver, MenuContainer and
Serializable interfaces. So all AWT components can be serialized and can
host pop-up menus.
• Component methods:

Controls Methods / Description

Size Dimension getSize()
void setSize(int width, int height)
void setSize(Dimension d)
Location Point getLocation()
void setLocation(int x, int y)
void setLocation(Point p)
Size and Rectangle getBounds()
Location void setBounds (int x, int y, int width, int height)
void setBounds (Rectangle r)
Color void setForeground(Color c)
void setBackground(Color c)
Font void setFont(Font f)
void setFont(Font f)
Visibility void setEnabled(boolean b)
and void setVisible(boolean b)
Enabling

• Container class extends Component. This class defines methods for

nesting components in a container.
Component add(Component comp)
Component add(Component comp, int index)
void add(Component comp, Object constraints)
void add(Component comp, Object constraints, int index)

void remove(int index)

void remove(Component comp)
void removeAll()
• The following are the containers:
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Contai Description
ner
Panel • Provides intermediate level of spatial organization and containment.
• Not a top-level window
• Does not have title, border or menubar.
• Can be recursively nested.
• Default layout is Flow layout.
Applet • Specialized Panel, run inside other applications (typically browsers)
• Changing the size of an applet is allowed or forbidden depending on
the browser.
• Default layout is Flow layout.
Windo • Top-level window without a title, border or menus.
w • Seldom used directly. Subclasses (Frame and Dialog) are used.
• Defines these methods:
• void pack() – Initiates layout management, window size
might be changed as a result
• void show() – Makes the window visible, also brings it to
front
• void dispose() – When a window is no longer needed, call
this to free resources.
Frame • Top-level window (optionally user-resizable and movable) with a
title-bar, an icon and menus.
• Typically the starting point of a GUI application.
• Default layout is Border layout.
Dialog • Top-level window (optionally user-resizable and movable) with a
title-bar.
• Doesn’t have icons or menus.
• Can be made modal.
• A parent frame needs to be specified to create a Dialog.
• Default layout is Border layout.
ScrollP • Can contain a single component. If the component is larger than the
ane scrollpane, it acquires vertical / horizontal scrollbars as specified in
the constructor.
• SCROLLBARS_AS_NEEDED – default, if nothing
specified
• SCROLLBARS_ALWAYS
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• SCROLLBARS_NEVER

• Top-level containers (Window, Frame and Dialog) cannot be nested.

They can contain other containers and other components.
• GUI components:

Compon Description Constructors Events

ent
Button • A button with a textual label. new Action
Button(“Apply”) event.
Canvas • No default appearance. Mouse,
• Can be sub-classed to create MouseMoti
custom drawing areas. on, Key
events.
Checkbo • Toggling check box. Checkbox(String Item event
x • Default initial state is false. label)
• getState(), setState(boolean
state) - methods Checkbox(String
• Can be grouped with a label, boolean
CheckboxGroup to provide initialstate)
radio behavior.
• Checkboxgroup is not a Checkbox(String
subclass of Component. label,
CheckBoxGroup
• Checkboxgroup provides these
group)
methods: getSelectedCheckbox
and
setSelectedCheckbox(Checkbo
x new)
Choice • A pull-down list Item event
• Can be populated by repeatedly
calling addItem(String item)
method.
• Only the current choice is
visible.
FileDial • Subclass of Dialog FileDialog(Frame
og • Open or Save file dialog, parent, String title,
modal int mode)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Dialog automatically removed,

after user selects the file or hits Mode can be
cancel. FileDialog.LOAD
• getFile(), getDirectory() or
methods can be used to get FileDialog.SAVE
information about the selected
file.
Label • Displays a single line of read- Label() None
only non-selectable text Label(String label)
• Alignment can be Label(String label,
Label.LEFT, Label.RIGHT or int align)
Label.CENTER
List • Scrollable vertical list of text List() Item event
items. List(int – selecting
• No of visible rows can be nVisibleRows) or
specified, if not specified List(int deselecting
layout manager determines nVisibleRows,
this. boolean Action
• Acquires a vertical scrollbar if multiSelectOK) event –
needed. double
• List class methods: clicking
• addItem(String),
addItem(String, int index)
• getItem(int index),
getItemCount()
• getRows() – no of
visible rows
• int getSelectedIndex()
• int[]
getSelectedIndexes()
• String
getSelectedItem()
• String[]
getSelectedItems()
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Scrollbar • With the last form of Scrollbar() – a Adjustment

constructor, calculate the vertical scrollbar. event
spread as maxvalue – Scrollbar(int
minvalue. Then the slider orientation)
width is slidersize / spread Scrollbar(int
times of scrollbar width. orientation, int
initialvalue, int
slidersize, int
minvalue, int
maxvalue)

Orientation can be
Scrollbar.HORIZO
NTAL
Scrollbar.VERTIC
AL
TextFiel • Extends TextComponent TextField() – empty Text event
d • Single line of edit / display of field
text. TextField(int ncols) Action
• Scrolled using arrow keys. – size event –
• Depending on the font, number TextField(String Enter key is
of displayable characters can text) – initial text pressed.
vary. TextField(String
• But, never changes size once text, int ncols) –
created. initial text and size
• Methods from TextComponent:
• String
getSelectedText()
• String getText()
• void
setEditable(boolean
editable)
• void setText(String
text)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

TextAre • Extends TextComponent TextArea() – empty Text event

a • Multiple lines of edit/display of area
text. TextArea(int nrows,
• Scrolled using arrow keys. int ncols) – size
• Can use the TextComponent TextArea(String
methods specified above. text) – initial text
• Scroll parameter in last TextArea(String
constructor form could be text, int nrows, int
TextArea.SCROLLBARS_B ncols) – initial text
OTH, and size
TextArea.SCROLLBARS_N TextArea(String
ONE, text, int nrows, int
TextArea.SCROLLBARS_H ncols, int scroll)
ORIZONTAL_ONLY
TextArea.SCROLLBARS_VE
RTICAL_ONLY

• Pull-down menus are accessed via a menu bar, which can appear only on
Frames.
• All menu related components inherit from java.awt.MenuComponent
• Steps to create and use a menu
• Create an instance of MenuBar class
• Attach it to the frame – using setMenubar() method of Frame
• Create an instance of Menu and populate it by adding
MenuItems, CheckboxMenuItems, separators and Menus. Use
addSeparator() method to add separators. Use add() method to add
other items.
• Attach the Menu to the MenuBar. Use add() method of
Menubar to add a menu to it. Use setHelpMenu to set a particular
menu to appear always as right-most menu.
• Menu(String label) – creates a Menu instance. Label is what displayed on
the Menubar. If this menu is used as a pull-down sub-menu, label is the
menu item’s label.
• MenuItems generate Action Events.
• CheckboxMenuItems generate Item Events.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 11 Layout Managers

• Precise layout functionality is often performed and a repetitive task. By
the principles of OOP, it should be done by classes dedicated to it. These
classes are layout managers.
• Platform independence requires that we delegate the positioning and
painting to layout managers. Even then, Java does not guarantee a button
will look the same in different platforms.(w/o using Swing)
• Components are added to a container using add method. A layout
manager is associated with the container to handle the positioning and
appearance of the components.
• add method is overloaded. Constraints are used differently by different
layout managers. Index can be used to add the component at a particular
place. Default is –1 ( i.e. at the end)
Component add(Component comp)
Component add(Component comp, int index)
void add(Component comp, Object constraints)
void add(Component comp, Object constraints, int index)
• setLayout is used to associate a layout manager to a container. Panel
class has a constructor that takes a layout manager. getLayout returns the
associated layout manager.
• It is recommended that the layout manager be associated with the
container before any component is added. If we associate the layout
manager after the components are added and the container is already
made visible, the components appear as if they have been added by the
previous layout manager (if none was associated before, then the default).
Only subsequent operations (such as resizing) on the container use the
new layout manager. But if the container was not made visible before the
new layout is added, the components are re-laid out by the new layout
manager.
• Positioning can be done manually by passing null to setLayout.
• Flow Layout Manager
 Honors components preferred size.(Doesn’t constraint height or
width)
 Arranges components in horizontal rows, if there’s not enough
space, it creates another row.
 If the container is not big enough to show all the components,
Flow Layout Manager does not resize the component, it just displays
whatever can be displayed in the space the container has.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

 Justification (LEFT, RIGHT or CENTER) can be specified in

the constructor of layout manager.
 Default for applets and panels.
• Grid Layout Manager
 Never honors the components’ preferred size
 Arranges the components in no of rows/columns specified in
the constructor. Divides the space the container has into equal size
cells that form a matrix of rows/columns.
 Each component will take up a cell in the order in which it is
added (left to right, row by row)
 Each component will be of the same size (as the cell)
 If a component is added when the grid is full, a new column is
created and the entire container is re-laid out.
• Border Layout Manager
 Divides the container into 5 regions – NORTH, SOUTH,
EAST, WEST and CENTER
 When adding a component, specify which region to add. If
nothing is specified, CENTER is assumed by default.
 Regions can be specified by the constant strings defined in
BorderLayout (all upper case) or using Strings (Title case, like North,
South etc)
 NORTH and SOUTH components – height honored, but made
as wide as the container. Used for toolbars and status bars.
 EAST and WEST components – width honored, but made as
tall as the container (after the space taken by NORTH, SOUTH
components). Used for scrollbars.
 CENTER takes up the left over space. If there are no other
components, it gets all the space.
 If no component is added to CENTER, container’s background
color is painted in that space.
 Each region can display only one component. If another
component is added, it hides the earlier component.

• Card Layout Manager

 Draws in time rather than space. Only one component displayed
at a time.
 Like a tabbed panel without tabs. (Can be used for wizards
interface, i.e. by clicking next, displays the next component)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

 Components added are given a name and methods on the

CardLayout manager can be invoked to show the component using
this name. Also the manager contains methods to iterate through the
components. For all methods, the parent container should be specified.
first(Container parent)
next(Container parent)
previous(Container parent)
last(Container parent)
show(Container parent, String name)
 Component shown occupies the entire container. If it is smaller
it is resized to fit the entire size of the container. No visual clue is
given about the container has other components.
• Gridbag Layout Manager
 Like the GridLayout manger uses a rectangular grid.
 Flexible. Components can occupy multiple cells. Also the width
and height of the cells need not be uniform. i.e A component may
span multiple rows and columns but the region it occupies is always
rectangular. Components can have different sizes (which is not the
case with Grid layout)
 Requires lot of constraints to be set for each component that is
added.
 GridBagConstraints class is used to specify the constraints.
 Same GridBagConstraints object can be re-used by all the
components.

Specify Name of the Description Default

constraints
Location int gridx Column and row positions of the GridBagConstraints.RE
int gridy upper left corner of the LATIVE in both
component in the grid. Added directions
relative to the previous
component if specified
GridBagConstraints.RELATIVE
Dimensi int gridwidth Number of cells occupied by the One cell in both
on int gridheight component horizontally and directions
vertically in the grid.
GridBagConstraints.REMAIND
ER
- specify this for last
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

component
GridBagConstraints.RELATIVE
- specify this for next-to-last
component
Growth double weigthx How to use the extra space if 0 for both, meaning that
Factor double weigthy available. the area allocated for
the component will not
grow beyond the
preferred size.
Anchorin int anchor Where a component should be GridBagConstraints.CE
g placed within its display area. NTER
Constants defined in
GridBagConstraints:
CENTER, NORTH,
NORTHEAST, EAST,
SOUTHEAST, SOUTH,
SOUTHWEST, WEST,
NORTHWEST
Filling int fill How the component is to stretch GridBagConstraints.NO
and fill its display area. NE
Constants defined in
GridBagConstraints:
NONE, BOTH, HORIZONTAL,
VERTICAL
Padding int ipadx Internal padding added to each 0 pixels in either
int ipady side of the component. direction
Dimension of the component
will grow to (width + 2 * ipadx)
and (height + 2 * ipady)
Insets Insets insets External padding (border) (0,0,0,0) (top, left,
around the component. bottom, right)

Layout Description Constructors Consta Default

Manager nts For
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

FlowLayo Lays out the FlowLayout() - center aligned, 5 LEFT Panel and
ut components in pixels gap both horizontally and CENTE its
row-major order. vertically R subclasses
Rows growing FlowLayout(int alignment) RIGHT (Applet)
from left to right, FlowLayout(int alignment, int
top to bottom. hgap, int vgap)
GridLayou Lays out the GridLayout() – equivalent to N/A None
t components in a GridLayout(1,0)
specified GridLayout(int rows, int
rectangular grid, columns)
from left to right
in each row and
filling rows from
top to bottom.
BorderLay Up to 5 BorderLayout() NORT Window
out components can BorderLayout(int hgap, int vgap) H and its
be placed in SOUTH subclasses
particular EAST (Dialog
locations: north, WEST and
south, east, west CENTE Frame)
and center. R
CardLayo Components are CardLayout() N/A None
ut handled as a stack CardLayout(int hgap, int vgap)
of indexed cards.
Shows only one at
a time.
GridbagLa Customizable and GridbagLayout() Defined None
yout flexible layout in
manager that lays GridBa
out the g
components in a Constrai
rectangular grid. nts
class.
See the
above
table
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 12 Events
• Java 1.0’s original outward rippling event model had shortcomings.
- An event could only be handled by the component that originated
the event or one of its containers.
- No way to disable processing of irrelevant events.
• Java 1.1 introduced new “event delegation model”.
- A component may be told which objects should be notified when
the component generates a particular kind of event.
- If a component is not interested in an event type, those events
won’t be propagated.
• Both models are supported in Java 2, but the old model will eventually
disappear. Both models should not be mixed in a single program. If we
do that, the program is most likely to fail.
• Event delegation model’s main concepts: Event classes, Event listeners,
Explicit event enabling and Event adapter classes.
Event Classes
• Events are Java objects. All the pertinent information is encapsulated in
that object. The super class of all events is java.util.EventObject.
• This java.util.EventObject class defines a method that returns the object
that generated the event:
Object getSource()
• All events related to AWT are in java.awt.event package. AWTEvent is
the abstract super class of all AWT events. This class defines a method
that returns the ID of the event. All events define constants to represent
the type of event.
int getID() – returns an int in the form of an integer value that
identifies the type of event.
• It is useful to divide the event classes into Semantic events and Low-level
events.
• Semantic Events –
These classes are used for high-level semantic events, to represent user
interaction with GUI. ActionEvent, AdjustmentEvent, ItemEvent,
TextEvent

Event Class Source Event Types

 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Button – when clicked ACTION_PERFORMED

List – when doubleclicked
ActionEvent MenuItem – when clicked
TextField – when Enter key is
pressed
Adjustment Scrollbar – when adjustments are ADJUSTMENT_VALUE_CH
Event made ANGED
CheckBox – when selected or ITEM_STATE_CHANGED
deselected
CheckboxMenuItem – same as
checkbox
ItemEvent
Choice – when an item is selected
or deselected
List - when an item is selected or
deselected
TextField TEXT_VALUE_CHANGED
TextEvent
TextArea

Methods defined in the events to get the information about them.

Event Class Method Description
String Returns the command name associated with this
getActionComman action
d
int getModifiers Returns the sum of modifier constants
ActionEvent
corresponding to the keyboard modifiers held
down during this action.
SHIFT_MASK, ALT_MASK, CTRL_MASK,
META_MASK
Adjustment int getvalue Returns the current value designated by the
Event adjustable component
Object getItem Returns the object that was selected or deselected
Label of the checkbox
ItemEvent int getStateChange Returned value indicates whether it was a
SELECTED selection or a de-selection that took place, given
DESELECTED by the two constants in ItemEvent.
• Low-level Events –
These classes are used to represent low-level input or window operations.
Several low-level events can constitute a single semantic event.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

ComponentEvent, ContainerEvent, FocusEvent, KeyEvent,

MouseEvent, PaintEvent, WindowEvent

Event Class Source Event Types

COMPONENT_SHOWN, COMPONENT_HIDDEN,
Component All COMPONENT_MOVED, COMPONENT_RESIZED
Event components AWT handles this event automatically. Programs should
not handle this event.
COMPONENT_ADDED, COMPONENT_REMOVED
ContainerEv All
AWT handles this event automatically. Programs should
ent containers
not handle this event.
FOCUS_GAINED, FOCUS_LOST
All
FocusEvent Receiving focus means the component will receive all
components
the keystrokes.
This is an abstract class. Parent of KeyEvent and
All
InputEvent MouseEvent. Constants for key and mouse masks are
components
defined in this class.
All KEYPRESSED, KEYRELEASED, KEYTYPED (when
KeyEvent
components a character is typed)
MOUSE_PRESSED, MOUSE_RELEASED,
All MOUSE_CLICKED, MOUSE_DRAGGED,
MouseEvent
components MOUSE_MOVED, MOUSE_ENTERED,
MOUSE_EXITED
This event occurs when a component should have its
paint()/update() methods invoked. AWT handles this
All event automatically. Programs should not handle this
PaintEvent
components event. This event is not supposed to be handled by the
event listener model. Components should override
paint/update methods to get rendered.
This event is generated when an important operation is
performed on a window.
WindowEve All WINDOW_OPENED, WINDOW_CLOSING,
nt windows WINDOW_CLOSED, WINDOW_ICONIFIED,
WINDOW_DEICONIFIED, WINDOW_ACTIVATED,
WINDOW_DEACTIVATED

Methods defined in the events to get the information about them.

Event Class Method Description
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Component Component Returns a reference to the same object as

Event getComponent getSource, but the returned reference is of type
Component.
Container Returns the container where this event
ContainerEv getContainer originated.
ent Component Returns the child component that was added or
getChild removed in this event
FocusEvent boolean Determines whether the loss of focus is
isTemporary permanent or temporary
long getWhen Returns the time the event has taken place.
int getModifiers Returns the modifiers flag for this event.
InputEvent void consume Consumes this event so that it will not be
processed in the default manner by the source
that originated it.
int getKeyCode For KEY_PRESSED or KEY_RELEASED
events, this method can be used to get the integer
key-code associated with the key. Key-codes are
KeyEvent defined as constants is KeyEvent class.
char getKeyChar For KEY_TYPED events, this method returns
the Unicode character that was generated by the
keystroke.
int getX Return the position of the mouse within the
int getY originated component at the time the event took
MouseEvent
Point getPoint place
int getClickCount Returns the number of mouse clicks.
WindowEve Window Returns a reference to the Window object that
nt getWindow caused the event to be generated.
Event Listeners
• Each listener interface extends java.util.EventListener interface.
• There are 11 listener interfaces corresponding to particular events. Any
class that wants to handle an event should implement the corresponding
interface. Listener interface methods are passed the event object that has
all the information about the event occurred.
• Then the listener classes should be registered with the component that is
the source/originator of the event by calling the addXXXListener method
on the component. Listeners are unregistered by calling
removeXXXListener method on the component.
• A component may have multiple listeners for any event type.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• A component can be its own listener if it implements the necessary

interface. Or it can handle its events by implementing the processEvent
method. (This is discussed in explicit event enabling section)
• All registered listeners with the component are notified (by invoking the
methods passing the event object). But the order of notification is not
guaranteed (even if the same component is registered as its own listener).
Also the notification is not guaranteed to occur on the same thread.
Listeners should take cautions not to corrupt the shared data. Access to
any data shared between the listeners should be synchronized.
• Same listener object can implement multiple listener interfaces.
• Event listeners are usually implemented as anonymous classes.

Event Type Event Source Listener Registration Event Listener

and removal methods Interface
provided by the source implemented by a
listener
ActionEvent Button addActionListener ActionListener
List removeActionListner
MenuItem
TextField
AdjustmentE Scrollbar addAdjustmentListener AdjustmentListener
vent removeAdjustmentListner
ItemEvent Choice addItemListener ItemListener
List removeItemListner
Checkbox
CheckboxMen
uItem
TextEvent TextField addTextListener TextListener
TextArea removeTextListner
ComponentE Component add ComponentListener ComponentListener
vent remove ComponentListner
ContainerEv Container addContainerListener ContainerListener
ent removeContainerListner
FocusEvent Component addFocusListener FocusListener
removeFocusListner
KeyEvent Component addKeyListener KeyListener
removeKeyListner
MouseEvent Component addMouseListener MouseListener
removeMouseListner
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

addMouseMotionListener MouseMotionListener
removeMouseMotionListn
er
WindowEve Window addWindowListener WindowListener
nt removeWindowListner

Event Listener interfaces and their methods:

Event Listener Event Listener Methods

Interface
ActionListener void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt)
AdjustmentListen void
er adjustmentValueChanged(AdjustmentEvent evt)
ItemListener void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent evt)
TextListener void textValueChanged(TextEvent evt)
ComponentListen void componentHidden(ComponentEvent evt)
er void componentShown(ComponentEvent evt)
void componentMoved(ComponentEvent evt)
void componentResized(ComponentEvent evt)
ContainerListener void componentAdded(ContainerEvent evt)
void componentRemoved(ContainerEvent evt)
FocusListener void focusGained(FocusEvent evt)
void focusLost(FocusEvent evt)
KeyListener void keyPressed(KeyEvent evt)
void keyReleased(KeyEvent evt)
void keyTyped(KeyEvent evt)
MouseListener void mouseClicked(MouseEvent evt)
void mouseReleased(MouseEvent evt)
void mousePressed(MouseEvent evt)
void mouseEntered(MouseEvent evt)
void mouseExited(MouseEvent evt)
MouseMotionList void mouseDragged(MouseEvent evt)
ener void mouseMoved(MouseEvent evt)
WindowListener void windowActivated(WindowEvent evt)
void windowDeactivated(WindowEvent evt)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

void windowIconified(WindowEvent evt)

void windowDeiconified(WindowEvent evt)
void windowClosing(WindowEvent evt)
void windowClosed(WindowEvent evt)
void windowOpened(WindowEvent evt)

Event Adapters
• Event Adapters are convenient classes implementing the event listener
interfaces. They provide empty bodies for the listener interface methods,
so we can implement only the methods of interest without providing
empty implementation. They are useful when implementing low-level
event listeners.
• There are 7 event adapter classes, one each for one low-level event
listener interface.
• Obviously, in semantic event listener interfaces, there is only one
method, so there is no need for event adapters.
• Event adapters are usually implemented as anonymous classes.

Explicit Event Enabling

How events are produced and handled?
• OS dispatches events to JVM. How much low-level processing is done
by OS or JVM depends on the type of the component. In case of Swing
components JVM handles the low-level events.
• JVM creates event objects and passes them to the components.
• If the event is enabled for that component, processEvent method in that
component (inherited from java.awt.Component) is called. Default
behavior of this method is to delegate the processing to more specific
processXXXEvent method. Then this processXXXEvent method invokes
appropriate methods in all registered listeners of this event.
• All the registered listeners of the event for the component are notified.
But the order is not guaranteed.
• This delegation model works well for pre-defined components. If the
component is customized by sub-classing another component, then it has
the opportunity to handle its own events by implementing appropriate
processXXXEvent methods or the processEvent method itself.
• To handle its own events, the subclass component must explicitly enable
all events of interest. This is done by calling enableEvents method with
appropriate event masks in the constructor. Enabling more than one event
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

requires OR’ing corresponding event masks. These event masks are

defined as constants in java.awt.AWTEvent.
• If the component wants to also notify the registered listeners for the
event, then the overriding methods should call the parent version of the
methods explicitly.
• Component class has a method processMouseMotionEvent, even though
there is no event called MouseMotionEvent.

Steps for handling events using listeners or by the same component

Delegating to listeners Handling own events (explicit

enabling)
1. Create a listener class, either by 1. Create a subclass of a component
implementing an event listener 2. Call
interface or extending an event enableEvents(XXX_EVENT_MA
adapter class. SK) in the constructor.
2. Create an instance of the 3. Provide processXXXEvent and/or
component processEvent in the subclass
3. Create an instance of the listener component. If also want to notify
class the listeners, call parent method.
4. Call addXXXListener on the 4. Create an instance of the subclass
component passing the listener component
object. (This step automatically
enables the processing of this type
of event. Default behavior of
processEvent method in the
component is to delegate the
processing to processXXXEvent
and that method will invoke
appropriate listener class
methods.)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 13 Painting
• Some objects have default appearance. When they are created, OS
decorates with a pre-defined appearance.
• Some components don’t have any intrinsic appearance. These are Applet,
Panel, Frame and Canvas. For these objects paint() method is used to
render them.
public void paint(Graphics g)
• The paint() method provides a graphics context (an instance of Graphics
class) for drawing. This is passed as a method argument.
• A Graphics object encapsulates state information needed for the basic
rendering operations that Java supports. This state information includes
the following properties:
• The Component object on which to draw.
• A translation origin for rendering and clipping coordinates.
• The current clip.
• The current color.
• The current font.
• The current logical pixel operation function (XOR or Paint).
• The current XOR alternation color.
• We can use this Graphics object to achieve the following functionality:
1. Selecting a color – g.setColor(Color)
There are 13 predefined colors in Color class. Or create a new
color using Color(R,G,B)
2. Selecting a Font – g.setFont(Font)
A Font is created by Font(String name, int style, int size)
3. Drawing and Filling – Various draw, fill methods
4. Clipping – g.setClip(Shape) or g.setClip(x, y, width, height)
• Graphics class is an abstract class. It cannot be created. But an instance
can be obtained in 2 ways.
1. Every component has an associated graphics context. Get this
using getGraphics method.
2. Given an existing Graphics object, call create() on that object to
create a new one.
In both cases, after its use call dispose method on Graphics, to free the
resources. We shouldn’t call dispose on the graphics context passed into
paint() method, since it’s just temporarily made available.
• JVM calls paint() spontaneously under 4 circumstances
1. After exposure
2. After de-iconification
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

3. Shortly after init returns (Applets only)

4. Browser returns to a page contains the Applet (Applets only)
• In all cases, clip region is set appropriately. If only a small portion is
exposed, no time is wasted in drawing already drawn pixels.
• Programs can also call paint(). But normally they achieve this by calling
repaint(). Repaint() schedules a call to update() method (every 100 ms in
most platforms). This is to ensure that JVM is never overwhelmed with
the events.
• update() restores the component’s background color and calls paint(). If
you don’t want to erase the previously drawn content, override update()
and just call paint() from it. (A common practice).
• Event handlers that need to modify the screen according to input events,
usually store the state information in instance variables and call repaint().
• Images can be created from empty (using createImage(int width, int
height) method) or loaded from external image files (using getImage()
method in Toolkit class). Then they can be modified using the graphics
context associated with the image. They can be drawn on the component
using the drawImage method of the Graphics context of the component.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 14 Applets and HTML

• <APPLET> tag specifies applet information in a HTML page

• It must be enclosed between <BODY> and </BODY>
• </APPLET> tag is mandatory to close the <APPLET> tag
• CODE, WIDTH and HEIGHT are mandatory attributes within
<APPLET> tag. Their order is not significant. Instead of the class file,
applet can specified via a serialized file using OBJECT attribute. If we
specify OBJECT attribute CODE attribute is not specified and vice versa.
• In HTML 4.0, OBJECT tag can be specified instead of APPLET tag.
With OBJECT tag, we specify the applet with CLASSID attribute.
• The following are other optional tags
Tag Name Purpose
CODEBASE Directory for the applet’s class
ALT Alternate text for browsers with no support for
applets but can understand <APPLET> tag
HSPACE Left/Right boundaries b/w other HTML elements
on a page
VSPACE Top/Bottom boundaries b/w other HTML
elements on a page
ALIGN Alignment with respect to other HTML elements
NAME Name of the applet for inter-applet
communication
ARCHIVE Name of the JAR file (Lot of files can be
downloaded in a single download to reduce the
time needed) Even multiple jar files can be
specified, separated by commas.
OBJECT Specified if CODE attribute is not present and
vice versa. Applet is read in from the specified
serialized file.

• Between <APPLET> and </APPLET>, PARAM tags can be specified.

These are used to pass parameters from HTML page to the applet.
• <PARAM NAME = ”name” VALUE = ”value”>
• Applets call getParameter(name) to get the parameter. The name is not
case sensitive here.
• The value returned by getParameter is case sensitive, it is returned as
defined in the HTML page.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• If not defined, getParameter returns null.

• Text specified between <APPLET> and </APPLET> is displayed by
completely applet ignorant browsers, who cannot understand even the
<APPLET> tag.
• If the applet class has only non-default constructors, applet viewer throws
runtime errors while loading the applet since the default constructor is
not provided by the JVM. But IE doesn’t have this problem. But with
applets always do the initialization in the init method. That’s the normal
practice.
• Methods involved in applet’s lifecycle.
Method Description
void init() This method is called only once by the applet context to
inform the applet that it has been loaded into the system.
Always followed by calls to start() and paint() methods. Same
purpose as a constructor. Use this method to perform any
initialization.
void start() Applet context calls this method for the first time after calling
init(), and thereafter every time the applet page is made
visible.
void stop() Applet context calls this method when it wants the applet to
stop the execution. This method is called when the applet page
is no longer visible.
void destroy() This method is called to inform the applet that it should
relinquish any system resources that it had allocated. Stop()
method is called prior to this method.
void paint(Graphics g) Applets normally put all the rendering operations in this
method.
• Limitations for Applets:
• Reading, writing or deleting files on local host is not allowed.
• Running other applications from within the applet is prohibited.
• Calling System.exit() to terminate the applet is not allowed.
• Accessing user, file and system information, other than locale-
specific information like Java version, OS name and version, text-
encoding standard, file-path and line separators, is prohibited.
• Connecting to hosts other than the one from which the applet
was loaded is not permitted.
• Top-level windows that an applet creates have a warning
message for applets loaded over the net.
• Some other methods of Applet class
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Method Description
URL Returns the document URL, i.e. the URL of the HTML file in
getDocumentBase() which the applet is embedded.
URL getCodeBase() Returns the base URL, i.e. the URL of the applet class file that
contains the applet.
void Applet can request the applet context to display messages in its
showStatus(String “status window”.
msg)
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Chapter 15 I/O

• Inside JVM, text is represented in 16 bit Unicode. For I/O, UTF (UCS
(Universal Character set) Transformation Format) is used. UTF uses as
many bits as needed to encode a character.
• Often programs need to bring in information from an external source or
send out information to an external destination. The information can be
anywhere: in a file, on disk, somewhere on the network, in memory, or in
another program. Also, it can be of any type: objects, characters, images,
or sounds.
• To bring in information, a program opens a stream on an information
source (a file, memory or a socket) and reads the information serially.
Similarly, a program can send information to an external destination by
opening a stream to a destination and writing the information out serially.
• No matter where the information is coming from or going to and no
matter what type of data is being read or written, the algorithms for
reading and writing data is pretty much always the same.

Reading Writing
open a stream open a stream
while more information while more information
read information write information
close the stream close the stream

• For this kind of general I/O Stream/Reader/Writer model is used. These

classes are in java.io package. They view the input/output as an ordered
sequence of bytes/characters.
• We can create I/O chains of arbitrary length by chaining these classes.
• These classes are divided into two class hierarchies based on the data
type (either characters or bytes) on which they operate. Streams operate
on bytes while Readers/Writers operate on chars.
• However, it's often more convenient to group the classes based on their
purpose rather than on the data type they read and write. Thus, we can
cross-group the streams by whether they read from and write to data
"sinks" (Low level streams) or process the information as its being read
or written (High level filter streams).

Low Level Streams / Data sink streams

 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Low Level Streams/Data sink streams read from or write to specialized

data sinks such as strings, files, or pipes. Typically, for each reader or
input stream intended to read from a specific kind of input source, java.io
contains a parallel writer or output stream that can create it. The
following table gives java.io's data sink streams.

Sink Character
Byte Streams Purpose
Type Streams
Use these streams to read from and
CharArrayRe
ByteArrayInputSt
write to memory. You create these
ader, ream,
streams on an existing array and then
CharArrayWr
ByteArrayOutput
use the read and write methods to read
iter Stream
from or write to the array.
Use StringReader to read characters
Memo from a String as it lives in memory.
ry Use StringWriter to write to a String.
StringWriter collects the characters
StringReader, StringBufferInput
written to it in a StringBuffer, which
StringWriter Stream
can then be converted to a String.
StringBufferInputStream is similar to
StringReader, except that it reads bytes
from a StringBuffer.
PipedInputStrea Implement the input and output
PipedReader, m, components of a pipe. Pipes are used to
Pipe
PipedWriter PipedOutputStrea channel the output from one program
m (or thread) into the input of another.
Collectively called file streams, these
FileReader, FileInputStream,
File streams are used to read from or write
FileWriter FileOutputStream
to a file on the native file system.

High Level Filter Streams / Processing streams

• Processing streams perform some sort of operation, such as buffering or

character encoding, as they read and write. Like the data sink streams,
java.io often contains pairs of streams: one that performs a particular
operation during reading and another that performs the same operation
(or reverses it) during writing. This table gives java.io's processing
streams.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

Character
Process Byte Streams Purpose
Streams
Buffer data while reading or
writing, thereby reducing the
BufferedRead BufferedInputStre
number of accesses required on
er, am,
Buffering the original data source.
BufferedWrite BufferedOutputStr
Buffered streams are typically
r eam
more efficient than similar
nonbuffered streams.
Abstract classes, like their
FilterInputStream, parents. They define the
FilterReader,
Filtering FilterOutputStrea interface for filter streams,
FilterWriter
m which filter data as it's being
read or written.
A reader and writer pair that
forms the bridge between byte
streams and character streams.
An InputStreamReader reads
bytes from an InputStream and
converts them to characters
Converting InputStreamR using either the default
between eader, character-encoding or a
N/A
Bytes and OutputStream character-encoding specified by
Characters Writer name. Similarly, an
OutputStreamWriter converts
characters to bytes using either
the default character-encoding or
a character-encoding specified
by name and then writes those
bytes to an OutputStream.
Concatenati SequenceInputStr Concatenates multiple input
N/A
on eam streams into one input stream.
ObjectInputStrea
Object
m,
Serializatio N/A Used to serialize objects.
ObjectOutputStrea
n
m
Data N/A DataInputStream, Read or write primitive Java data
Conversion DataOutputStream types in a machine-independent
format. Implement
DataInput/DataOutput
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

interfaces.
LineNumberR LineNumberInput Keeps track of line numbers
Counting
eader Stream while reading.
Two input streams each with a
1-character (or byte) pushback
buffer. Sometimes, when reading
data from a stream, you will find
it useful to peek at the next item
Peeking PushbackRead PushbackInputStr in the stream in order to decide
Ahead er eam what to do next. However, if you
do peek ahead, you'll need to put
the item back so that it can be
read again and processed
normally. Certain kinds of
parsers need this functionality.
Contain convenient printing
methods. These are the easiest
Printing PrintWriter PrintStream streams to write to, so you will
often see other writable streams
wrapped in one of these.

• Reader and InputStream define similar APIs but for different data types.
For example, Reader contains these methods for reading characters and
arrays of characters:
int read() throws IOException
int read(char cbuf[]) throws IOException
abstract int read(char cbuf[], int offset, int length) throws
IOException
InputStream defines the same methods but for reading bytes and arrays of
bytes:
abstract int read() throws IOException
int read(byte cbuf[]) throws IOException
int read(byte cbuf[], int offset, int length) throws IOException
Also, both Reader and InputStream provide methods for marking a
location in the stream, skipping input, and resetting the current position.

Both Reader and InputStream are abstract. Subclasses should provide

implementation for the read() method.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Writer and OutputStream are similarly parallel. Writer defines these

methods for writing characters and arrays of characters:
int write(int c) throws IOException
abstract int write(char cbuf[])throws IOException
int write(char cbuf[], int offset, int length) throws IOException
And OutputStream defines the same methods but for bytes:
abstract int write(int c) throws IOException
int write(byte cbuf[]) throws IOException
int write(byte cbuf[], int offset, int length) throws IOException

Writer defines extra methods to write strings.

void write(String str) throws IOException
void write(String str, int offset, int length) throws IOException

Both Writer and OutputStream are abstract. Subclasses should provide

implementation for the write() method.

Constructors for some common streams, reader and writers:

FileInputStream(String name) throws FileNotFoundException

FileInputStream(File file) throws FileNotFoundException
FileInputStream(FileDescriptor fdObj)

FileOutputStream(String name) throws FileNotFoundException

FileOutputStream(String name, boolean append) throws
FileNotFoundException
FileOutputStream (File file) throws FileNotFoundException
FileOutputStream (FileDescriptor fdObj)

DataInputStream(InputStream in)
DataOutputStream(OutputStream out)

BufferedInputStream(InputStream in)
BufferedInputStream(InputStream in, int size)
BufferedOutputStream(OutputStream out)
BufferedOutputStream(OutputStream out, int size)

FileReader(File file) throws FileNotFoundException

FileReader (FileDescriptor fdObj)
FileReader (String name) throws FileNotFoundException
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

FileWriter(File file) throws IOException

FileWriter(String name) throws IOException
FileWriter(String name, boolean append) throws IOException
FileWriter(FileDescriptor fdObj)

InputStreamReader(InputStream in)
InputStreamReader(InputStream in, String encodingName) throws
UnsupportedEncodingException

OutputStreamWriter(OutputStream out)
OutputStreamWriter (OutputStream out, String encodingName)
throws UnsupportedEncodingException

PrintWriter(Writer out)
PrintWriter(Writer out, boolean autoflush)
PrintWriter(OutputStream out)
PrintWriter(OutputStream out, boolean autoflush)

BufferedReader(Reader in)
BufferedReader(Reader in, int size)
BufferedWriter(Writer out)
BufferedWriter (Writer out, int size)

Encoding Name Character Set Name

8859_1 ISO Latin-1 (subsumes ASCII)
8859_2 ISO Latin-2
8859_3 ISO Latin-3
8859_4 ISO Latin / Cyrillic
UTF8 Standard UTF-8 (subsumes
ASCII)

• OutputStreamWriter and InputStreamReader are the only ones where you

can specify an encoding scheme apart from the default encoding scheme
of the host system. getEncoding method can be used to obtain the
encoding scheme used.
• With UTF-8 Normal ASCII characters are given 1 byte. All Java
characters can be encoded with at most 3 bytes, never more.
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• All of the streams--readers, writers, input streams, and output streams--

are automatically opened when created. You can close any stream
explicitly by calling its close method. Or the garbage collector can
implicitly close it, which occurs when the object is no longer referenced.
• Closing the streams automatically flushes them. You can also call flush
method.
• New FileWriter(“filename”) or FileOutputStream(“filename”) will
overwrite if “filename” is existing or create a new file, if not existing.
But we can specify the append mode in the second argument.
• Print writers provide the ability to write textual representations of Java
primitive values. They have to be chained to the low-level streams or
writers. Methods in this class never throw an IOException.
• PrintStream and PrintWriter classes can be created with autoflush feature,
so that each println method will automatically be written to the next
available stream. PrintStream is deprecated.(though System.out and
System.err are still of this type)
• System.in is of InputStream type.
• System.in, System.out, System.err are automatically created for a
program, by JVM.
• Use buffered streams for improving performance.BufferedReader
provides readLine method.

• User defined classes must implement Serializable or Externalizable

interfaces to be serialized.
• Serializable is a marker interface with no methods. Externalizable has
two methods to be implemented – readExternal(ObjectInput) and
writeExternal(ObjectOutput).
• ObjectOutputStream can write both Java Primitives and Object
hierarchies. When a compound object is serialized all its constituent
objects that are serializable are also serialized.
• ObjectOutputStream implements ObjectOutput, which inherits from
DataOutput.
• All AWT components implement Serializable (Since Component class
implements it), so by default we can just use an ObjectOutputStream to
serialize any AWT component.

• File class is used to navigate the file system.

 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

• Constructing a File instance (or Garbage-Collecting it) never affects the

file system.
• File class doesn’t have a method to change the current working directory.
• File constructors

Constructor Description
File(File dir,
Creates a File instance that represents the file with the
String name) specified name in the specified directory
File(String path) Creates a File instance that represents the file whose
pathname is the given path argument.
File(String path, Creates a File instance whose pathname is the pathname
String name) of the specified directory, followed by the separator
character, followed by the name argument.

• File methods

Method Description
boolean canRead() Tests if the application can read from the specified
file.
boolean canWrite() Tests if the application can write to this file.
boolean delete() Deletes the file specified by this object.
boolean exists() Tests if this File exists.
String Returns the absolute pathname of the file represented
getAbsolutePath() by this object.
String Returns the canonical form of this File object's
getCanonicalPath() pathname.
.. and . are resolved.
String getName() Returns the name of the file represented by this object.
String getParent() Returns the parent part of the pathname of this File
object, or null if the name has no parent part.
String getPath() Returns the pathname of the file represented by this
object.
boolean Tests if the file represented by this File object is an
isAbsolute() absolute pathname.
boolean Tests if the file represented by this File object is a
isDirectory() directory.
boolean isFile() Tests if the file represented by this File object is a
"normal" file.
long lastModified() Returns the time that the file represented by this File
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

object was last modified.

long length() Returns the length of the file (in bytes) represented by
this File object.
String[] list() Returns a list of the files in the directory specified by
this File object.
String[] Returns a list of the files in the directory specified by
list(FilenameFilter) this File that satisfy the specified filter.
FileNameFilter is an interface that has a method
accept().
This list method will call accept for each entry in the
list of files and only returns the files for which accept
returns true.
boolean mkdir() Creates a directory whose pathname is specified by
this File object.
boolean mkdirs() Creates a directory whose pathname is specified by
this File object, including any necessary parent
directories.
boolean Renames the file specified by this File object to have
renameTo(File) the pathname given by the File argument.

• Instances of the file descriptor class serve as an opaque handle to the

underlying machine-specific structure representing an open file or an
open socket.
• Applications should not create their own file descriptors

• RandomAccessFile lets you read/write at arbitrary places within files.

• RAF provides methods to read/write bytes.
• RAF also provides methods to read/write Java primitives and UTF
strings. (RAF implements the interfaces DataInput and DataOutput)
• File and RAF instances should be closed when no longer needed.
• All reading/writing operations throw an IOException. Need to catch or
declare our methods to be throwing that exception.
• Read/Write methods throw a SecurityException if the application doesn’t
have rights for the file.
• RAF cannot be chained with streams/readers/writers.

• RAF Constructors

Constructor Description
 Study Notes for Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform

RandomAccessFile(File file, Creates a random access file stream to read

String mode) from, and optionally to write to, the file
throws FileNotFoundException, specified by the File argument.
IllegalArgumentException,
SecurityException
RandomAccessFile(String name, Creates a random access file stream to read
String mode) throws from, and optionally to write to, a file with
FileNotFoundException, the specified name.
IllegalArgumentException,
SecurityException

• The mode argument must either be equal to "r" or "rw", indicating either
to open the file for input or for both input and output.

• Some RAF methods

Method Description
long Returns the offset from the beginning of the file, in
getFilePointer() bytes, at which the next read or write occurs.
throws IOException
void seek(long pos) Sets the file-pointer offset, measured from the beginning
throws IOException of this file, at which the next read or write occurs. The
offset may be set beyond the end of the file. Setting the
offset beyond the end of the file does not change the file
length. The file length will change only by writing after
the offset has been set beyond the end of the file.
long length() throws Returns the length of this file, measured in bytes.
IOException