Classes and Objects in Java
Basics of Classes in Java
1
Introduction
Java is a true OO language and therefore the underlying
structure of all Java programs is classes.
Anything we wish to represent in Java must be
encapsulated in a class that defines the “state” and
“behaviour” of the basic program components known as
objects.
Classes create objects and objects use methods to
communicate between them.
They provide a convenient method for packaging a
group of logically related data items and functions that
2
work on them.
Introduction (Cont..)
A class essentially serves as a template for an
object and behaves like a basic data type “int”.
It is therefore important to understand how the
fields and methods are defined in a class and
how they are used to build a Java program
that incorporates the basic OO concepts such
as encapsulation, inheritance, and
polymorphism.
3
Classes
A class is a collection of fields (data) and
methods (procedure or function) that
operate on that data.
Circle
centre
radius
circumference()
area()
4
Classes
A class is a collection of fields (data) and methods
(procedure or function) that operate on that data.
The basic syntax for a class definition:
class ClassName [extends SuperClassName]
{
[fields declaration]
[methods declaration]
}
Backbone class – no fields, no methods
public class Circle {
// my circle class
}
5
Adding Fields: Class Circle with fields
Add fields
public class Circle
{
public double x, y; // centre coordinate
public double r; // radius of the circle
}
The fields (data) are also called the
instance varaibles.
6
Adding Methods
A class with only data fields has no life. Objects
created by such a class cannot respond to any
messages.
Methods are declared inside the body of the class
but immediately after the declaration of data fields.
The general form of a method declaration is:
type MethodName (parameter-list)
{
Method-body;
}
7
Adding Methods to Class Circle
public class Circle {
public double x, y; // centre of the circle
public double r; // radius of circle
//Methods to return circumference and area
public double circumference()
{
return 2*3.14*r;
}
public double area()
{ Method Body
return 3.14 * r * r;
}
} 8
Data Abstraction
Declare the Circle class, have created a
new data type – Data Abstraction
Can define variables (objects) of that
type:
Circle aCircle;
Circle bCircle;
9
Class of Circle cont.
aCircle, bCircle simply refers to a Circle
object, not an object itself.
aCircle bCircle
null null
Points to nothing (Null Reference) Points to nothing (Null Reference)
10
Creating objects of a class
Objects are created dynamically using the
new keyword.
aCircle and bCircle refer to Circle objects
aCircle = new Circle() ; bCircle = new Circle() ;
11
Creating objects of a class
Circle aCircle = new Circle();
Circle bCircle = new Circle();
bCircle = aCircle;
Syntax:
ClassName objectName = new ClassName();
12
Creating objects of a class
aCircle = new Circle();
bCircle = new Circle() ;
bCircle = aCircle;
Before Assignment After Assignment
aCircle bCircle aCircle bCircle
P Q P Q
13
Automatic garbage collection
The object Q
does not have a
reference and cannot be used in future.
The object becomes a candidate for
automatic garbage collection.
Java automatically collects garbage
periodically and releases the memory
used to be used in the future.
14
Accessing Object/Circle Data
Similar to C syntax for accessing data
defined in a structure.
ObjectName.VariableName
ObjectName.MethodName(parameter-list)
Circle aCircle = new Circle();
aCircle.x = 2.0 // initialize center and radius
aCircle.y = 2.0
aCircle.r = 1.0
double area = aCircle.area(); // invoking method
15
Executing Methods in Object/Circle
Using Object Methods:
sent ‘message’ to aCircle
Circle aCircle = new Circle();
double area;
aCircle.r = 1.0;
area = aCircle.area();
16
Using Circle Class
// Circle.java: Contains both Circle class and its user class
//Add Circle class code here
class MyMain
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Circle aCircle = new Circle(); // creating object
aCircle.x = 10; // assigning value to data field
aCircle.y = 20;
aCircle.r = 5;
double area = aCircle.area(); // invoking method
double circumf = aCircle.circumference();
System.out.println("Radius="+aCircle.r+" Area="+area);
System.out.println("Radius="+aCircle.r+" Circumference ="+circumf);
}
}
Radius=5.0 Area=78.5
Radius=5.0 Circumference =31.400000000000002
17
Example: Circle Class and its Methods
package javaapplication6;
public class MyMain
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Circle aCircle = new Circle(); // creating object
aCircle.x = 10; // assigning value to data field
aCircle.y = 20;
aCircle.r = 5;
double area = aCircle.area(); // invoking method
double circumf = aCircle.circumference();
System.out.println("Radius="+aCircle.r+" Area="+area);
System.out.println("Radius="+aCircle.r+" Circumference ="+circumf);
}
}
18
Methods for Circle class
class Circle
{
int r;
int y;
int x;
double circumference()
{
return 2*3.14*r;
}
double area()
{
return 3.14 * r * r;
}
}
19
Output
Radius=5 Area=78.5
Radius=5 Circumference =31.400000000000002
20
Summary
Classes, objects, and methods are the basic
components used in Java programming.
We have discussed:
How to define a class
How to create objects
How to add data fields and methods to classes
How to access data fields and methods to classes
21
