Chapter 9

Objects and Classes

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 OO Programming in Java
Other than primitive data types (byte, short, int, long, float, double, char,
boolean), everything else in Java is of type object.

Objects we already worked with:

String: String name = new String("John Smith");
Scanner: Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
Random: Random generator = new Random(100);
Date: Date date = new Date();
System.out.println(date.toString());

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 What is an Object?
An object represents an entity in the real world that can be distinctly
identified. For example, student, desk, circle, button, person, course,
etc…
For instance, an object might represent a particular employee in a
company. Each employee object handles the processing and data
management related to that employee.
An object has a unique identity, state, and behaviors.
The state of an object consists of a set of data fields (instance variables
or properties) with their current values.
The behavior of an object is defined by a set of methods defined in the
class from which the object is created.
A class describes a set of similar objects.
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 Object Representation
In OO programming (e.g., Java), an object is associated with a memory
space referenced by the object name.

The memory space is allocated when using the new operator to create
the object.

The memory space holds the values of the data fields (instance
variables) of the object.

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 What is a Class?
A class is the blueprint (template) that defines objects of the
same type, a set of similar object, such as students.
The class uses methods to define the behaviors of its objects.
The class that contains the main method of a Java program
represents the entire program
A class provides a special type of methods, known as
constructors, which are invoked to construct (create) objects
from the class.
Multiple objects can be created from the same class.
 Example

A class An object
(the concept) (the realization)

Bank Account John’s Bank Account

OwnerName Balance: $7,890
State
Balance
Deposit() Amy’s Bank Account
Behavior Withdraw() Balance: $298,987
CheckBalance()
Ed’s Bank Account
Balance: $860,883

Multiple objects
from the same class
 Writing Classes
The programs we’ve written in previous examples have used
classes defined in the Java standard class library.
Now, we will begin to design programs that rely on classes that
we write ourselves.
The class that contains the main method is just the starting
point of a program.
 Writing Classes
A class can contain data declarations and method declarations.

BankAccount

String ownerName;
double balance; Data declarations

Deposit()

Withdraw() Method declarations

CheckBalance()
 Another Example
Fig 9.2

A class has both date fields (attributes/variables) and methods. The

data fields represent the state of an object; while the methods
represent the behavior of that object.

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Circle Class

The Circle class is different

from all the other classes you
have seen thus far. It does
not have a main method and
therefore cannot be run; it is
merely a definition for circle
objects.

The class that contains the main

method will be referred to in this
book, for convenience, as
the main class.
 UML Class Diagram
The illustration of class templates and objects in Figure 9.2 can be
standardized using Unified Modeling Language (UML) notation.

This notation, as shown in Figure 9.4, is called a UML class diagram, or

simply a class diagram

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 Constructor Methods
The constructor method creates the object in the memory with the
help of the Operating System.
Constructors are invoked using the new operator when an object is
created. Constructors play the role of initializing objects.
A class can have multiple versions of the constructor method,
allowing the user to create the class object in different ways.
The constructor method must have same name as the class name.
Constructors do not have a return type, not even void.
A constructor with no parameters is called no-arguments
constructor.

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 Class Circle Constructors
class Circle {
// The radius of this circle
double radius = 1.0; Data field

// Construct a circle object

Circle() {
}
Constructors
// Construct a circle object
Circle(double newRadius) {
radius = newRadius;
}

// Return the area of this circle

double getArea() { Method
return radius * radius * 3.14159;
// other methods
}
}
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 Creating Objects
To reference an object, assign the object to a reference variable.
To declare a reference variable, use the syntax:
ClassName objectRefVar;

Example:
Circle myCircle1, myCircle2; //reference variables
myCircle1 = new Circle(); //calls first constructor
myCircle2 = new Circle(5.0); //calls second constructor
OR
Circle myCircle1 = new Circle();
Circle myCircle2 = new Circle(5.0);

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 Default Constructor

A class may be declared without constructors.

This constructor, called a default constructor, is provided
automatically only if no constructors are explicitly declared in
the class.

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 Overloaded Constructors
Like regular methods, constructors can be
overloaded (i.e., multiple constructors can have the
same name but different signatures), making it easy
to construct objects with different initial data values
 Accessing the Object
Referencing the object’s data:
objectRefVar.data

double myRadius = myCircle.radius; //data field

Invoking the object’s method:

objectRefVar.methodName(arguments)

double myArea = myCircle.getArea(); //class method

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animation
Trace Code
Declare myCircle

Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); no value

myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100;

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animation
Trace Code, cont.

Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); no value

myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

radius: 5.0

Create a circle

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animation
Trace Code, cont.

Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value

myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100; Assign object reference : Circle

to myCircle
radius: 5.0

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animation
Trace Code, cont.
Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value
myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

radius: 5.0

yourCircle no value

Declare yourCircle

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animation
Trace Code, cont.
Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value
myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

radius: 5.0

yourCircle no value

: Circle
Create a new radius: 0.0
Circle object

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animation
Trace Code, cont.
Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value
myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

radius: 5.0

yourCircle reference value

Assign object reference

to yourCircle : Circle

radius: 1.0

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animation
Trace Code, cont.
Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value
myCircle
Circle yourCircle = new Circle();

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

radius: 5.0

yourCircle reference value

: Circle
Change radius in radius: 100.0
yourCircle

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 Caution
Recall that we used
Math.methodName(arguments)
(e.g., Math.pow(3, 2.5))

to invoke a method in the Math class.

Can you invoke getArea() using Circle1.getArea()?
All the methods defined in the Math class are static (defined using the
static keyword). However, method getArea() is non-static. It must
be invoked from an object using this syntax:
objectRefVar.methodName(arguments)
(e.g., myCircle.getArea())

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 Reference Data Fields
The data fields can be of reference types.
If a data field of a reference type does not reference any object, the
data field holds a special literal value null (or null pointer) .
For example, Class Student contains a data field name of the type
String (an array of characters).

public class Student {

// data fields
String name; //default value null. Why?
int age; //default value 0
boolean isScienceMajor; //default value false
char gender; //default value '\u0000', prints out as 00
}

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 Default Value for a Data Field

public class Test {

public static void main(String[] args) {
Student student1 = new Student(); //create student object
System.out.println("name? " + student1.name);
System.out.println("age? " + student1.age);
System.out.println("isScienceMajor? " + student1.isScienceMajor);
System.out.println("gender? " + student1.gender);
}
}

Output: name? null

age? 0
isScienceMajor? false
gender? 00

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 Default Values Inside Methods
Rule: Java assigns no default values to local variables inside a
method. A method's local variables must be initialized.
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int x; // x has no default value
String y; // y has no default value
System.out.println("x is " + x);
System.out.println("y is " + y);
}
}

Compilation error: variables not initialized

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 Primitive Type vs. Object Type

Primitive type int i = 1 i 1

Object type Circle c c reference c: Circle

radius = 1

Created using: myCircle = new Circle(1.0);

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 Primitive Type vs. Object Type
Primitive type assignment i = j
Before: After:

i 1 i 2

j 2 j 2

Object type assignment c1 = c2

Before: After:

c1 c1

c2 c2

c1: Circle C2: Circle c1: Circle C2: Circle

radius = 5 radius = 9 radius = 5 radius = 9

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 Garbage Collection
On the previous slide, after the assignment statement
c1 = c2; //circle objects

c1 points to the same object referenced by c2.

The object previously referenced by c1 is no longer

referenced/accessible (i.e., garbage). Garbage is automatically
collected by JVM.

TIP: If you know that an object is no longer needed, you can

explicitly assign null to a reference variable for the object. The
JVM will automatically collect the space if the object is not
referenced by any variable in the program.

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 Static Variables, Constants, and Methods

Static variables are shared by all the objects of the class.

Static methods are not tied to a specific object, applied to
all objects of the class.
Static constants (final variables) are shared by all the
objects of the class.
To declare static variables, constants, and methods, use
the static modifier.

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 Static Variables, Constants, and Methods

instantiate
circle1 Memory

radius After two Circle

Circle radius = 1 1
objects were created,
numberOfObjects = 2 numberOfObjects
radius: double is 2.
numberOfObjects: int 2 numberOfObjects

getNumberOfObjects(): int instantiate

circle2
+getArea(): double
radius
radius = 5 5
UML Notation: numberOfObjects = 2
+: public variables or methods
blue: static variables or methods

*In UML diagram if a variable or a method is static,

it has to be underlined

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Static and Instance Method Differences

This works!
 Visibility Modifiers
By default, a class variable or method can be
accessed by any class in the same package, but not
other packages.
Public:
The class, data, or method is visible to any class in any package.
Private:
The data or method can be accessed only by the declaring class.
The get and set methods are used to read and modify private
variables (better security).

Protected:
The methods or data members declared as protected are accessible
within the same package or subclasses in different packages. It is
specified using the keyword protected 35
 Visibility Modifiers Example - 1

The private modifier restricts access to within a class.

The default modifier restricts access to within a package.
The public modifier enables unrestricted access.
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Visibility Modifiers Example - 2

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 Data Field Encapsulation
Encapsulation is the idea of hiding the class internal details that are not
required by clients/users of the class.

Why? To protect data and to make classes easy to maintain and update.
How? Always use private variables!

Circle
The - sign indicates
private modifier - radius: double The radius of this circle (default: 1.0).
- numberOfObjects: int The number of circle objects created (static).

+ Circle() Constructs a default circle object.

+ Circle(radius: double) Constructs a circle object with the specified radius.
+ getRadius(): double Returns the radius of this circle.
+ setRadius(radius: double): void Sets a new radius for this circle.
+ getNumberOfObject(): int Returns the number of circle objects created.
+ getArea(): double Returns the area of this circle.

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 Visibility Modifiers - Comments - 1
 Class members (variables or methods) that are declared with public
visibility can be referenced/accessed anywhere in the program.

 Class members that are declared with private visibility can be

referenced/accessed only within that class.

 Class members declared without a visibility modifier have default

visibility and can be referenced/accessed by any class in the same
package.

 Public variables violate encapsulation because they allow class clients

to “reach in” and modify the values directly. Therefore instance
variables should not be declared with public visibility.

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 Visibility Modifiers - Comments - 2
 Methods that provide the object's services must be declared with
public visibility so that they can be invoked by clients (users of
the object).

 Public methods are also called service methods.

 A method created simply to assist a service method is called a

support method.

 Since a support method is not intended to be called by a client, it

should be declared with private visibility.

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 Example - 1
public class CircleWithPrivateDataFields
{
private double radius = 1;
private static int numberOfObjects = 0;

public CircleWithPrivateDataFields() { numberOfObjects++; }

public CircleWithPrivateDataFields(double newRadius) {

radius = newRadius;
numberOfObjects++;
}

public double getRadius() { return radius; }

public void setRadius(double newRadius) {

radius = (newRadius >= 0) ? newRadius : 0; //no negative radius
}

public static int getNumberOfObjects() {return numberOfObjects; }

public double getArea() {return radius*radius*Math.PI; }

}

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public class TestCircleWithPrivateDataFields {

public static void main(String[] args) { // Main method

// Create a Circle with radius 10.0

CircleWithPrivateDataFields myCircle =
new CircleWithPrivateDataFields(10.0);

System.out.println("The area of the circle of radius "

+ myCircle.getRadius() + " is " + myCircle.getArea());

// Increase myCircle's radius by 10%

myCircle.setRadius(myCircle.getRadius() * 1.1);

System.out.println("The area of the circle of radius "

+ myCircle.getRadius() + " is " + myCircle.getArea());
}
}
Note: variable radius cannot be directly accessed.
Only through the class methods!

Output:

The area of the circle of radius 10.0 is 314.1592653589793

The area of the circle of radius 11.0 is 380.132711084365
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 Passing Objects to Methods
Remember,
Passing by value for primitive types: the actual value is
copied into the formal parameter. Change to the actual
parameters is local to the method.

Passing by value for reference types: the reference value

(memory address) is passed (copied) to the actual
parameter, not the object itself. Any changes to the
passed reference will be reflected on the object outside
the method (similar to passing strings and arrays).

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public class TestPassObject {

public static void main(String[] args) {

CircleWithPrivateDataFields myCircle = new
CircleWithPrivateDataFields(1);

// Print areas for radius 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

int n = 5;
printAreas(myCircle, n);

// See myCircle.radius and times.

System.out.println("\n" + "Radius is " + myCircle.getRadius());
System.out.println("n is " + n);
}

// Print a table of areas for radius.

public static void printAreas(CircleWithPrivateDataFields c,
int times) {
System.out.println("Radius\t\tArea");
while (times >= 1) {
System.out.println(c.getRadius() + "\t\t" + c.getArea());
c.setRadius(c.getRadius() + 1);
times = times -1;
}
}
} 44
 Array of Objects
Consider:
Circle[] circleArray = new Circle[10];

An array of objects is actually an array of reference variables.

Thus, invoking circleArray[1].getArea() involves two levels

of referencing:
circleArray references the entire array
circleArray[1] references a Circle object

See next slide.

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 Array of Objects

Circle[] circleArray = new Circle[10];

Memory space Heap space for

for the array the objects

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 Example
public class TotalArea {
public static void main(String[] args) {

CircleWithPrivateDataFields[] circleArray; //Declare circleArray

circleArray = createCircleArray();//Create circleArray

//Print circleArray and total areas of the circles

printCircleArray(circleArray);
}

//Create an array of Circle objects

public static CircleWithPrivateDataFields[] createCircleArray() {
CircleWithPrivateDataFields[] circleArray =
new CircleWithPrivateDataFields[5];

for (int i = 0; i < circleArray.length; i++) {

circleArray[i] =
new CircleWithPrivateDataFields(Math.random() * 100);
}
return circleArray; //Return Circle array
}

// next slide
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 //Print an array of circles and their total area
public static void printCircleArray(
CircleWithPrivateDataFields[] circleArray)
{
System.out.println("Radius" + "\t\t\t\t" + "Area");
for (int i = 0; i < circleArray.length; i++) {
System.out.println(circleArray[i].getRadius() + "\t\t" +
circleArray[i].getArea());
}

System.out.println("-----------------------------------------");
//Compute and display the result
System.out.println("The total areas of circles is\t" +
sum(circleArray));
}

public static double sum( //Static method to add circle areas

CircleWithPrivateDataFields[] circleArray) {

double sum = 0; //Initialize sum

for (int i = 0; i < circleArray.length; i++)//Add areas to sum

sum = sum + circleArray[i].getArea();
return sum;
}
}
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Output:

----jGRASP exec: java TotalArea

Radius Area
0.049319 0.007642
81.879485 21062.022854
95.330603 28550.554995
92.768319 27036.423936
46.794917 6879.347364
-----------------------------------------
The total areas of circles is 83528.356790

----jGRASP: operation complete.

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 Immutable Objects and Classes
If the contents of an object cannot be changed once it is created, the
object is called an immutable object and its class is called an
immutable class.

For example, If you delete the set method in the Circle class in
Listing 8.10, the class would be immutable (not changeable)
because radius is private and cannot be changed without a set
method.

A class with all private data fields and without mutators (set
methods) is not necessarily immutable. For example, the following
class Student has all private data fields and no mutators, but it is
mutable (changeable).

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 Immutable Object Example
public class Student {
public class BirthDate {
private int id;
private int year;
private BirthDate birthDate;
private int month;
private int day;
public Student(int ssn,
int year, int month, int day) {
public BirthDate(int newYear,
id = ssn;
int newMonth, int newDay) {
birthDate = new BirthDate(year,
year = newYear;
month, day);
month = newMonth;
}
day = newDay;
}
public int getId() { return id; }
public void setYear(int newYear)
public BirthDate getBirthDate() {
return birthDate;
{ year = newYear; }
}
}
}

public class Test {

public static void main(String[] args) {
Student student = new Student(111223333, 1970, 5, 3);
BirthDate date = student.getBirthDate();
date.setYear(2010); // Now the student birth year is changed!
}
} Here student is mutable! 51
 What Class is Immutable?
For a class to be immutable:

• It must mark all data fields (variables) private

• Provide no mutator (set) methods

• No accessor (get) methods that would return a reference to

a mutable (changeable) data field object.
For example- getBirthDate method in previous slide
cannot be allowed if we want immutable object.

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 Scope of Variables - Revisited

The scope of instance and static variables is the entire

class. They can be declared anywhere inside a class.
The scope of a local variable starts from its declaration
and continues to the end of the block that contains the
variable. Example, int i=0; in a for loop.
A local variable must be initialized explicitly before it can
be used.

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 The this Keyword
The this keyword is the name of a reference that refers to
an object itself. One common use of this keyword is
referencing a class’s hidden data fields.

Another common use of the this keyword to enable a

constructor to invoke another constructor of the same
class.

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 Referencing the Hidden Data Fields
public class F { Suppose that f1 and f2 are two objects of F.
private int i = 5; F f1 = new F(); F f2 = new F();
private static double k = 0;
Invoking f1.setI(10) is to execute
void setI(int i) { this.i = 10, where this refers f1
this.i = i;
} Invoking f2.setI(45) is to execute
this.i = 45, where this refers f2
static void setK(double k) {
F.k = k;
}
}

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 Calling Overloaded Constructors
public class Circle {
private double radius;

public Circle(double radius) {

this.radius = radius;
} this must be explicitly used to reference the data
field radius of the object being constructed
public Circle() {
this(1.0);
} this is used to invoke another constructor

public double getArea() {

return this.radius * this.radius * Math.PI;
}
} Every instance variable belongs to an object represented by this, which
is normally omitted
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 Class Date - Revisited
Java provides a system-independent encapsulation of date and
time in the java.util.Date class.
You can use the Date class to create an instance/object for the
current date and time and use the class toString method to
return the date and time as a string.
Example:
java.util.Date date = new java.util.Date();
System.out.println(date.toString());

Output:
Sat Nov 08 12:31:11 EST 2014

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End of Chapter 9

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