Lecture Note: Introduction to Programming in Java

1. Overview of Java

• What is Java?
o Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language
developed by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle). It is
platform-independent, meaning Java applications can run on
any system with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
o Java is widely used for building web, mobile, desktop, and
enterprise applications.
• Key Features of Java:
o Platform Independence: "Write once, run anywhere"
(WORA) - Java code can run on any operating system with a
JVM.
o Object-Oriented: Supports concepts like classes, objects,
inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, and abstraction.
o Robust and Secure: Java has strong memory management
and provides built-in security features.
o Multi-threaded: Allows concurrent processing, making it
suitable for applications that require high performance.

2. Java Program Structure and Syntax

• Structure of a Java Program:

o Java programs consist of classes, methods, and fields
(variables).
o The main method serves as the entry point of any
standalone Java application.

Example of a Simple Java Program:

java
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public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}

• Explanation:
o public class HelloWorld defines a class named HelloWorld.
o public static void main(String[] args) is the main method,
where program execution begins.
o System.out.println prints text to the console.

3. Data Types and Variables in Java

• Primitive Data Types:

o int: Used for integer values (e.g., int num = 10;)
o double: Used for floating-point numbers (e.g., double price =
19.99;)
o char: Represents a single character (e.g., char grade = 'A';)
o boolean: Represents true or false values (e.g., boolean
isActive = true;)
• Declaring Variables:
o In Java, variables are declared with a data type followed by
the variable name.

Example:

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int age = 25;
double salary = 30000.50;
String name = "Alice";

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4. Operators in Java

• Arithmetic Operators: +, -, *, /, % (modulus)

• Comparison Operators: ==, !=, <, >, <=, >=
• Logical Operators: && (AND), || (OR), ! (NOT)

Example of Arithmetic Operations:

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int sum = 5 + 10;
int product = 5 * 10;
double quotient = 10 / 3.0;

5. Control Structures in Java

• Conditional Statements:
o If...Else Statement: Allows conditional execution of code.

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int age = 20;
if (age >= 18) {
System.out.println("Adult");
} else {
System.out.println("Minor");
}

• Switch Statement: An alternative to multiple if-else statements.

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char grade = 'A';
switch (grade) {
case 'A':
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 System.out.println("Excellent");
break;
case 'B':
System.out.println("Good");
break;
default:
System.out.println("Try Harder");
break;
}

• Loops:
o For Loop: Executes a block of code a specified number of
times.

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for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
System.out.println("Iteration: " + i);
}

o While Loop: Executes a block of code as long as a condition

is true.

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int count = 1;
while (count <= 5) {
System.out.println("Count: " + count);
count++;
}

6. Methods in Java

• Defining and Using Methods:

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 o Methods are blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
Methods allow reusability and code organization.

Example of a Simple Method:

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public static void greet() {
System.out.println("Hello!");
}

• Method with Parameters and Return Type:

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public static int add(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

7. Object-Oriented Programming in Java

• Classes and Objects:

o Class: A blueprint for objects. It defines properties
(fields) and behaviors (methods).
o Object: An instance of a class.

Example of a Class and Object:

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public class Car {
String model;

public Car(String model) {

this.model = model;
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 }

public void displayModel() {

System.out.println("Model: " + model);
}
}

public class Main {

public static void main(String[] args) {
Car myCar = new Car("Toyota");
myCar.displayModel();
}
}

8. Inheritance and Polymorphism

• Inheritance: Allows a new class (subclass) to inherit properties

and methods from an existing class (superclass).

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public class Vehicle {
public void start() {
System.out.println("Vehicle started");
}
}

public class Car extends Vehicle {

public void honk() {
System.out.println("Car honking");
}
}

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 • Polymorphism: Allows objects to be treated as instances of their
parent class.

9. Exception Handling in Java

• Try...Catch Block: Used to handle exceptions (runtime errors).

Example:

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try {
int number = Integer.parseInt("ABC");
} catch (NumberFormatException e) {
System.out.println("Invalid number format: " +
e.getMessage());
}

10. Basic Java APIs

• Java Standard Library: Java provides a rich set of APIs for

handling I/O, collections, networking, and more.
• Common Packages:
o java.util: Contains utility classes like ArrayList, HashMap.
o java.io: For input and output operations.
o java.lang: Contains core classes like Math, String, System.

15 Exam Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the main method in Java, and why is it

required?

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Answer: The main method (public static void main(String[] args)) is the
entry point of any standalone Java application. It’s where execution
starts in a Java program.

Question 2: Explain what the JVM is.

Answer: The JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is an environment that

executes Java bytecode, enabling Java programs to run on any device
or operating system with a JVM installed.

Question 3: How do you declare a variable of type String with the

value "Hello" in Java?

Answer:

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String greeting = "Hello";

Question 4: What is the difference between == and .equals() in

Java?

Answer: == checks if two references point to the same memory

location, while .equals() checks if two objects are logically equivalent.

Question 5: Write a Java if statement to check if a number is

positive.

Answer:

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java
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int num = 10;
if (num > 0) {
System.out.println("Positive");
}

Question 6: What is a for loop used for? Provide an example.

Answer: A for loop is used to iterate over a block of code a set number
of times.

Example:

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for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
System.out.println(i);
}

Question 7: What does the break keyword do in a loop?

Answer: break exits the loop immediately, stopping further iterations.

Question 8: What is a class in Java?

Answer: A class is a blueprint for creating objects. It defines

properties (fields) and behaviors (methods).

Question 9: What is an object in Java?

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Answer: An object is an instance of a class, representing a real-world
entity with properties and behaviors.

Question 10: What is inheritance in Java?

Answer: Inheritance allows a class (subclass) to inherit properties and

methods from another class (superclass).

Question 11: Define polymorphism in Java.

Answer: Polymorphism allows objects to be treated as instances of

their parent class, enabling flexibility in method calls.

Question 12: Write a simple method named add that returns the
sum of two integers.

Answer:

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public static int add(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

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