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1
Introduction to Programming
Introduction to Programming
(
(
Using Java)
Using Java)
Nandika Kasun
Nandika Kasun
University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC)
University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC)
University of Colombo
University of Colombo
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
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2
Definition of a(n) Object/Class
Definition of a(n) Object/Class
What is an Object :
A thing may have a physical presence
such as a table ,chair or an abstract
concept such as a job .
An object is an abstract representation of a
thing in the real world.
We simulate a problem domain in the real-
world through objects.
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Objects
Objects
An object has a unique identity, attributes (What it
knows or data about it), and behavior (What it can
do).
Eg
Eg
:
:
An Employee object (say employee) will have the
following attributes (what it knows):
name, age, salary
It will have the following behavior (what it can do):
set salary, get salary, set name, set age
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4
Classes
Classes
What is a Class?
Objects are the representation of things in the
real world
Classes are templates for objects, ie. They
contain all the common properties and behavior
of a group of objects.
All objects with the same characteristics and
behaviors belongs to the same class.
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5
Java Application
Java Application
A Java application is a collection of one or
more Java classes.
At least one of the classes is public and
contains a method named main() except in
case of applets..
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public class Employee {
private String name;
private int age;
private float salary;
public void setName(String tName) {
Name = tName; }
public void setSalary (float tSalary) {
salary = tSalary; }
public float getSalary () {
return salary; }
}
Objects and Classes
Objects and Classes
An example
class Declaration
Attributes
Methods
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Creating Objects
Creating Objects
Objects are created by instantiating classes.
To use a class in a program, you must first create an
instance of it.
Objects of a class can be created using the
new
new
operator.
Example Employee newEmp = new Employee();
Class Name
Variable containing
an Object reference
Constructor
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Creating Objects
Creating Objects
Object References
following declaration will create an Object reference
Employee newEmp2 ;
The newEmp2 variable
will have value null
newEmp2
You can create
multiple References
to the same object
Employee newEmp;
newEmp = new Employee();
newEmp2 = newEmp;
newemp
newemp2
newEmp
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Destroying Objects
Destroying Objects
Javas garbage collection is automatic
There is no great need for an explicit destructor.
finalize method plays the role of a destructor.
This method is useful to disconnect network
connections as well as close any open databases
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10
Objects and Classes
Objects and Classes
A basic method definition is as follows:
modifier returnType MethodName (parameter List) {
statement(s);
}
Optional
Can be any primitive type
or a class Name or
void (no return statement)
Usually the modifier for methods
is public and for attributes it is private
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Objects and Classes
Objects and Classes
The return Type, Method Name, and the
parameter list defines the Signature of the
method
It is possible to define two or more methods
with the same name within the same class
(Method Overloading) with different signatures
public void CreatePoint( )
public void CreatePoint(int x , y)
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Objects and Classes
Objects and Classes
Accessing methods
a instance method can be accessed using the
dot(.) operator as shown below.
ObjectName.method();
A class method can be accessed by using the
class name followed by a period and then the
method name
Integer.parseInt(25);
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Passing parameters
all parameters (except Object types such as
instances of classes and Arrays etc.) are passed
by value.
i.e. any modifications done within the method
does not affect the original variable.
Objects and Classes
Objects and Classes
if you require to modify the original variables,
and needs to pass those to a method
Declare those as instance variables in a class
and pass an object of that class to the method
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Constructors
Constructors
Constructor Methods
These methods are used to initialize objects
they have the same name as the class and have
no return type
these methods are called automatically when the
new operator is used to allocate memory for an
object.
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Constructors
Constructors
Overloading Constructors
A class can have multiple Constructors
(Overloaded Constructors)
All carries the same name
They have either different number of
arguments or different types of arguments
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Constructors
Constructors
Example for Constructors
public class twoDPoint {
float x,y;
twoDPoint ( ) {
x= y = 0;
}
}
No argument
Constructor
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Constructors
Constructors
Example for Constructors
public class twoDPoint {
float x,y;
twoDPoint ( ) {
x= y = 0;
}
twoDPoint ( float a , float b) {
x=a;
y=b;
}
}
No argument
Constructor
Overloaded
constructor
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This Keyword
This Keyword
this keyword
this keyword is used to refer to the
current object.
It can be used to :
refer to the current objects member variables
refer to current objects methods
pass a reference to the current object to a method
return a reference current object
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This Keyword
This Keyword
this keyword
t=this.x;
this.myMethod(this);
return this;
Refers to the member
variable x in this object
Call the myMethod
defined in this class
and pass its this Object
Return this Object
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Super Keyword
Super Keyword
super keyword
This keyword is used to refer to the Super or
parent class
super( );
super(x,y);
super.f( );
Invokes super class Constructor
Invokes super class Constructor
with x and y arguments
Calls the super class function
called f( )
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Summary
Summary
This week we learned Objects and Classes
Exercise:
Exercise:
Implement Java objects for represent a Chair, a Car and a
Implement Java objects for represent a Chair, a Car and a
Student. You should define attributes and methods of these
Student. You should define attributes and methods of these
objects.
objects.