Unit 1: Introduction to Java
1. Overview of Java Programming Language
Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems
(now owned by Oracle). It is platform-independent, meaning that programs written in Java
can run on any device or operating system with a Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
2. Features of Java
- Simple: Java has a syntax similar to C, making it easier for new developers to learn.
- Object-Oriented: Everything in Java is treated as an object, following the principles of
object-oriented programming.
- Platform-Independent: Java programs can run on any platform that supports Java without
modification (Write Once, Run Anywhere).
- Secure: Java has built-in security features, such as bytecode verification and runtime
security management.
- Multithreaded: Java supports multithreaded programming, allowing multiple tasks to be
performed simultaneously.
- Robust: Java has strong memory management features and built-in error-handling
mechanisms.
3. Java Development Environment: JDK, JRE, and IDEs
- JDK (Java Development Kit): A software development kit that provides all the tools
required to develop Java applications, including the JRE, compiler, debugger, and other
utilities.
- JRE (Java Runtime Environment): A runtime environment that includes the Java Virtual
Machine (JVM), core libraries, and other resources needed to run Java applications.
- IDEs (Integrated Development Environments): Software that provides tools for writing,
debugging, and testing Java programs, such as Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and NetBeans.
4. Writing and Running a Java Program (Hello World Program)
A simple Java program starts with a class definition. The main method, which is the entry
point of a Java program, contains the code to be executed.
Example: public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
5. Data Types and Variables
Java has two categories of data types: primitive types and reference types.
- Primitive types: int, float, char, boolean, etc.
- Reference types: Objects, arrays, and classes.
Variables are used to store data values. A variable must be declared with a specific data type
before it can be used.
6. Constants and Literals
- Constants: Variables whose values cannot be changed after initialization. Defined using
the final keyword.
Example: final int MAX_VALUE = 100;
- Literals: Fixed values assigned to variables, such as 10, 3.14, and "Hello".
7. Operators: Arithmetic, Relational, Logical, Bitwise
- Arithmetic Operators: +, -, *, /, % (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, modulus)
- Relational Operators: ==, !=, >, <, >=, <= (comparison of values)
- Logical Operators: && (AND), || (OR), ! (NOT) (used for logical operations)
- Bitwise Operators: &, |, ^, ~, <<, >>, >>> (used to perform bit-level operations on integer
data types)