2015 Marty Hall

Basic Java Syntax

Originals of slides and source code for examples: http://courses.coreservlets.com/Course-Materials/java.html
Also see Java 8 tutorial: http://www.coreservlets.com/java-8-tutorial/ and many other Java EE tutorials: http://www.coreservlets.com/
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Developed and taught by well-known author and developer. At public venues or onsite at your location.

2015 Marty Hall

For customized Java-related training at

your organization, email hall@coreservlets.com
Marty is also available for consulting and development support

Taught by lead author of Core Servlets & JSP, co-author of

Core JSF (4th Ed), & this tutorial. Available at public venues, or
customized versions can be held on-site at your organization.
Courses developed and taught by Marty Hall
JSF 2.2, PrimeFaces, servlets/JSP, Ajax, JavaScript, jQuery, Android, Java 7 or 8 programming, GWT, custom mix of topics
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Java
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Java
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details

Topics in This Section

Basics
Accessing arrays
Looping
Indenting code
if statements and other conditionals
Strings
Building arrays
Performing basic mathematical operations
Reading command-line input
Converting strings to numbers

2015 Marty Hall

Setup, Execution, and

Most Basic Syntax
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Eclipse: Making Projects

Main steps
File New Project
Java Java Project
Pick any name

If you will ever use applets

Choose sources/classes
in project folder

Eclipse: Creating Classes

Main steps
R-click on project New Class
You can have Eclipse make
main when class created, but
easier to use shortcut to insert it later
Eventually you will make package
(subdirectory) first, then put class there

Alternative
Can also copy/rename existing class

Getting Started: Syntax

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

Details
Processing starts in main
Eclipse can create main automatically
When creating class: choose main as option
Eclipse shortcut inside class: type main then hit Control-space

Routines usually called methods, not functions.

Printing is done with System.out.print...

8

System.out.println, System.out.print, System.out.printf

Eclipse shortcut: type sysout then hit Control-space

Getting Started: Execution

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

Compiling
Eclipse: just save file
> javac HelloWorld.java

Executing
Eclipse: R-click, Run As, Java Application
> java HelloWorld
Hello, world.
9

Packages
Idea
Packages are subdirectories used to avoid name conflicts
Java class must have package subdirname; at the top
But Eclipse puts this in automatically when you right-click
on a package and use New Class

Naming conventions
Package names are in all lower case
Some organizations use highly nested names
com.companyname.projectname.projectcomponent

Creating packages in Eclipse

R-click project, New Package
Then R-click package and New Class
10

HelloWorld with Packages

(in src/mypackage folder)
package mypackage;
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, world (using packages)");
}
}

Run from Eclipse in normal manner: R-click, Run As Java Application. Running from the command line is a pain: you must go
to parent directory and do java mypackage.HelloWorld. Run from Eclipse and it is simple to use packages.
11

 2015 Marty Hall

The + Operator,
Array Basics,
Command Line Args
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The + Operator
Use + for addition
If both arguments are numbers, + means addition.
Example:
double result = 2.3 + 4.5;

Use + for string concatenation

If either argument is String, + means concatenation. + is
only overloaded operator in all of Java.
Examples
String result1 = "Hello, " + "World";
String result2 = "Number " + 5;
13

Array Basics: Accessing

Elements
Arrays are accessed with [ ]
Array indices are zero-based
int[] nums = { 2, 4, 6, 8 }
nums[0] is 2
nums[3] is 8
Trying to access nums[4] results in error

Main is passed an array of strings

args[0] returns first command-line argument
args[1] returns second command-line argument, etc.
Error if you try to access more args than were supplied
14

Array Basics: The length Field

The length variable tells you number of
array elements
Gives the number of elements in any array
String[] names = { "John", "Jane", "Juan" };
names.length is 3
But last entry ("Juan") is names[2], not names[3]

For command-line arguments

In main, args.length gives the number of commandline arguments
Unlike in C/C++, the name of the program is not inserted
into the command-line arguments
15

Command-line Arguments
Are useful for learning and testing
Command-line args are helpful for beginners practice
But, programs given to end users should almost never use
command-line arguments
They should pop up a GUI to collect input

Eclipse has poor support

Entering command-line args via Eclipse is more trouble
than it is worth
So, to test with command-line args:

Save the file in Eclipse (causing it to be compiled)

Navigate to folder on desktop (not within Eclipse)
Open command window (Start icon, Run cmd)
Type java Classname arg1 arg2

Example: Command Line Args

and the length Field
File: ShowTwoArgs.java (nave version)
public class ShowTwoArgs {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("First arg: " +
args[0]);
System.out.println("Second arg: " +
args[1]);
}
}
Oops! Crashes if there are fewer than two command-line arguments. The code should have checked the length field, like this:
if (args.length > 1) {
doThePrintStatements();
} else {
giveAnErrorMessage();
}
17

Example (Continued)
Compiling (automatic on save in Eclipse)
> javac ShowTwoArgs.java

Manual execution
> java ShowTwoArgs Hello Class
First arg: Hello
Second arg: Class
> java ShowTwoArgs
[Error message]

Eclipse execution (cumbersome)

To assign command line args: R-click, Run As,
Run Configurations, click on Arguments tab
18

2015 Marty Hall

Loops
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Looping Constructs
for/each
for(variable: collection) {
body;
}

for
for(init; continueTest; updateOp) {
body;
}

while
while (continueTest) {
body;
}

do
do {
body;
} while (continueTest);
20

For/Each Loops
public static void listEntries(String[] entries) {
for(String entry: entries) {
System.out.println(entry);
}
}

Result
String[] test = {"This", "is", "a", "test"};
listEntries(test);
This
is
a
test
21

For Loops
public static void listNums1(int max) {
for(int i=0; i<max; i++) {
System.out.println("Number: " + i);
}
}

Result
listNums1(4);
Number:
Number:
Number:
Number:

0
1
2
3

22

While Loops
public static void listNums2(int max) {
int i = 0;
while (i < max) {
System.out.println("Number: " + i);
i++;
// "++" means "add one"
}
}

Result
listNums2(5);

23

Number:
Number:
Number:
Number:
Number:

0
1
2
3
4

Do Loops
public static void listNums3(int max) {
int i = 0;
do {
System.out.println("Number: " + i);
i++;
} while (i < max);
// ^ Dont forget semicolon
}

Result

24

listNums3(3);
Number: 0
Number: 1
Number: 2

2015 Marty Hall

Class Structure and

Formatting
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Defining Multiple Methods in

Single Class
public class LoopTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String[] test = {"This", "is", "a", "test"};
listEntries(test);
listNums1(5);
listNums2(6);
listNums3(7);
}
These methods say static because they are called directly from main.
In the upcoming sections on OOP, we will explain what static means and
why most regular methods do not use static. But for now, just note that
methods that are directly called by main must say static.

public
public
public
public

static
static
static
static

void
void
void
void

listEntries(String[] entries) {}
listNums1(int max) {}
listNums2(int max) {}
listNums3(int max) {}

}
26

Indentation: Blocks that are nested

more should be indented more

27

Yes

No

blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
}
}

blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
}
}

Indentation: Blocks that are nested the

same should be indented the same
Yes

No

blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
}
}

blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
}
}

28

Indentation: Number of spaces and

placement of braces is a matter of taste
OK
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
}
}
29

OK
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
for(...) {
blah;
blah;
}
}

OK
blah;
blah;
for(...)
{
blah;
blah;
for(...)
{
blah;
blah;
}
}

 2015 Marty Hall

Conditionals
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If Statements:
One or Two Options
Single option
if (booleanExpression) {
statement1;
...
statementN;
}

Two options
if (booleanExpression) {
...
} else {
...
}
31

The value inside parens must be strictly boolean (i.e.,

true or false), unlike C, C++, and JavaScript.
A widely accepted best practice is to use the braces even
if there is only a single statement inside the if or else.

If Statements:
More than Two Options
Multiple options
if (booleanExpression1) {
...
} else if (booleanExpression2) {
...
} else if (booleanExpression3) {
...
} else {
...
}
32

Switch Statements
Example
int month = ...;
String monthString;
switch(month) {
case 1: monthString = "January"; break;
case 2: monthString = "February"; break;
case 3: monthString = "March";
break;
...
default: monthString = "Invalid month"; break;
}

Syntax is mostly like C and C++

Types can be primitives, enums, and (Java 7+) Strings
33

Boolean Operators
==, !=
Equality, inequality. In addition to comparing primitive types,
== tests if two objects are identical (the same object), not just
if they appear equal (have the same fields). More details when
we introduce objects.

<, <=, >, >=

Numeric less than, less than or equal to, greater than, greater
than or equal to.

&&, ||
Logical AND, OR. Both use short-circuit evaluation to more
efficiently compute the results of complicated expressions.

!
Logical negation.
34

Example: If Statements
public static int max(int n1, int n2) {
if (n1 >= n2) {
return(n1);
} else {
return(n2);
}
}

35

 2015 Marty Hall

Strings
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Developed and taught by well-known author and developer. At public venues or onsite at your location.

Strings: Basics
Overview
String is a real class in Java, not an array of characters as
in C++
The String class has a shortcut method to create a new
object: just use double quotes
String s = "Hello";
Differs from normal classes, where you use new to build
an object

Use equals to compare strings

Never use == to test if two Strings have same characters!
37

Using == to Compare Strings

(Wrong!)
public class CheckName1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
if (args.length == 0) {
System.out.println("Nobody");
} else if (args[0] == "Marty") {
System.out.println("Hi, Marty");
} else {
System.out.println("Hi, stranger");
}
}
This always prints Hi, stranger, even if the first
}
command line argument is Marty.

Using equals to Compare

Strings (Right!)
public class CheckName2 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
if (args.length == 0) {
System.out.println("Nobody");
} else if (args[0].equals("Marty")) {
System.out.println("Hi, Marty");
} else {
System.out.println("Hi, stranger");
}
}
}

Strings: Methods
Methods to call on a String
contains, startsWith, endsWith, indexOf, substring, split,
replace, replaceAll, toUpperCase, toLowerCase,
equalsIgnoreCase, trim, isEmpty, etc.
For replacing, can use regular expressions, not just static strings

Example
String word = "";
if (word.contains("q")) { }

Static methods in String class

String.format, String.join, String.valueOf, etc.
Example
String numberAsString = String.valueOf(17);
40

2015 Marty Hall

More on Arrays
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Building Arrays:
One-Step Process
Declare and allocate array in one fell swoop
type[] var = { val1, val2, ... , valN };

Examples:
int[] values = { 10, 100, 1000 };
String[] names = {"Joe", "Jane", "Juan"};
Point[] points = { new Point(0, 0),
new Point(1, 2),
new Point(3, 4) };

42

Building Arrays:
Two-Step Process
Step 1: allocate an array of references:
Type[] var = new Type[size];
E.g.:
int[] primes = new int[x]; // x is positive integer
String[] names = new String[someVariable]; // Positive int

Step 2: populate the array

primes[0] = 2;
primes[1] = 3;
primes[2] = 5;
primes[3] = 7;
etc. (or use a loop)
43

names[0] = "Joe";
names[1] = "Jane";
names[2] = "Juan";
names[3] = "John";
etc. (or use a loop)

Default Array Values

If you fail to populate an entry
Default value is 0 for numeric arrays
int[] nums = new int[7];
int value = 3 + nums[2];

// value is 3

Default value is null for Object arrays

String[] words = new String[7];
System.out.println(words[2]); // Prints null
if (words[3].contains("q") { }
// Crashes with NullPointerException

44

Two-Step Process: Example 1

public static Circle[] makeCircles1(int numCircles) {
Circle[] circles = new Circle[numCircles];
// Empty array of proper size
for(int i=0; i<circles.length; i++) {
circles[i] = new Circle(Math.random() * 10);
// Populate array
}
return(circles);
}

This approach is correct!

45

Two-Step Process: Example 2

public static Circle[] makeCircles2(int numCircles) {
Circle[] circles = new Circle[numCircles];
// Empty array of proper size
for(int i=0; i<circles.length; i++) {
circles[i].setRadius(Math.random() * 10);
// NullPointerException
}
return(circles);
}

This approach fails: the call to setRadius crashes with NullPointerException

because circles[i] is null.

46

Two-Step Process: Example 3

public static Circle[] makeCircles3(int numCircles) {
Circle[] circles = new Circle[numCircles];
for(Circle c: circles) {
c = new Circle(Math.random() * 10);
// Fails to store c in array
}
return(circles);
// Array still contains only null pointers
}

This approach fails: array is still empty after the loop.

47

Multidimensional Arrays
Multidimensional arrays
Implemented as arrays of arrays
int[][] twoD = new int[64][32];
String[][] cats = {{ "Caesar", "blue-point" },
{ "Heather", "seal-point" },
{ "Ted",
"red-point" }};

Note:
Number of elements in each row need not be equal
int[][] irregular = { {
{
{
{

1 },
2, 3, 4},
5 },
6, 7 } };

49

TriangleArray: Example
public class TriangleArray {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[][] triangle = new int[10][];
for(int i=0; i<triangle.length; i++) {
triangle[i] = new int[i+1];
}
for (int i=0; i<triangle.length; i++) {
for(int j=0; j<triangle[i].length; j++) {
System.out.print(triangle[i][j]);
}
System.out.println();
}
}
}
50

TriangleArray: Result
> java TriangleArray
0
00
000
0000
00000
000000
0000000
00000000
000000000
0000000000
51

2015 Marty Hall

Math Routines
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Basic Mathematical Operators

+, -, *, /, %
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, mod
mod means remainder, so 3 % 2 is 1.

num++, ++num
Means add one to (after/before returning value)
int num = 3;
num++;
// num is now 4

Usage
For brevity and tradition, but no performance benefit over
simple addition

Warning
Be careful with / on int and long variables (rounds off)
53

Basic Mathematical Methods:

Usage
Static methods in the Math class
So you call Math.cos(...), Math.random(), etc.
Most operate on double-precision floating point numbers

Examples
double eight = Math.pow(2, 3);
double almostZero = Math.sin(Math.PI);
double randomNum = Math.random();

54

Basic Mathematical Methods:

Most Common Methods
Simple operations: Math.pow(), etc.
pow (xy), sqrt (x), cbrt, exp (ex), log (loge), log10

Trig functions: Math.sin(), etc.

sin, cos, tan, asin, acos, atan
Args are in radians, not degrees, (see toDegrees and toRadians)

Rounding and comparison: Math.round(), etc.

round/rint, floor, ceiling, abs, min, max

Random numbers: Math.random()

Math.random() returns double from 0 inclusive to 1 exclusive.
See Random class for more control over randomization.

55

Common Use of Math.random

To randomly invoke different operations
Especially useful for testing
for(int i=0; i<10; i++) {
if (Math.random() < 0.5) {
doFirstOperation(); // 50% chance
} else {
doSecondOperation(); // 50% chance
}
}

56

More Mathematical Options

Special constants

Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY
Double.NEGATIVE_INFINITY
Double.NAN
Double.MAX_VALUE
Double.MIN_VALUE

Unlimited precision libraries

BigInteger, BigDecimal
Contain basic math operations like add, pow, mod, etc.
BigInteger also has isPrime

57

2015 Marty Hall

Reading Input
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Reading Strings
Option 1: use command-line argument
String input = args[0];

Option 2: use JOptionPane

String input =
JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Number:");

Option 3: use Scanner

Scanner inputScanner = new Scanner(System.in);
String input = inputScanner.next();

Warning
In real life, you must check

59

Converting Strings to Numbers

To int: Integer.parseInt
String input = ...;
int num = Integer.parseInt(input);

To double: Double.parseDouble
String input = ...;
double num = Double.parseDouble(input);

With Scanner
Use scanner.nextInt(), scanner.nextDouble()

Warning
In real life, you must handle the case where the input is
not a legal number.

60

Idea shown without explanation in Input1Alt class

Try/catch blocks and exception handling covered in detail
in the section on applets and basic drawing

Command-Line Args
public class Input1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
if (args.length > 1) {
int num = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
System.out.println("Your number is " + num);
} else {
System.out.println("No command-line args");
}
}
}
Open command window and navigate to folder containing class
> java Input1 7
Your number is 7

61

Error Checking
(Explained in Applets Section)
public class Input1Alt {
public static void main(String[] args) {
if (args.length > 1) {
try {
int num = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
System.out.println("Your number is " + num);
} catch(NumberFormatException e) {
System.out.println("Input is not a number");
}
} else {
System.out.println("No command-line arguments");
}
}
Open command window and navigate to folder containing class
}

62

> java Input1Alt seven

Input is not a number
> java Input1Alt 7
Your number is 7

JoptionPane
import javax.swing.*;
public class Input2 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String input =
JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Number:");
int num = Integer.parseInt(input);
System.out.println("Your number is " + num);
}
}
Run from Eclipse (R-click, Run As Java Application),
enter 8 in popup window
Result in Eclipse Console:
Your number is 8
63

Scanner
import java.util.*;
public class Input3 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.print("Number: ");
Scanner inputScanner = new Scanner(System.in);
int num = inputScanner.nextInt();
System.out.println("Your number is " + num);
}
}
Run from Eclipse (R-click, Run As Java Application),
enter 9 after Number: prompt in Eclipse Console. Next line:
Your number is 9

64

In Real Applications, use GUI

For practice, use approaches just shown
Command line args, JOptionPane, Scanner

Desktop and phone apps

Collect input within Java app using textfields, sliders,
dropdown menus, etc.
Convert to numeric types with Integer.parseInt,
Double.parseDouble, etc.

Web apps (JSF2 and PrimeFaces)

Collect input on browser with textfields, sliders, popup
calendars, etc.
Java will convert automatically for simple types
You can set up converters for complex types
65

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2015 Marty Hall

Wrap-Up
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Summary
Basics
Loops, conditional statements, and array access is similar to C/C++
But additional for each loop: for(String s: someStrings) { }

Indent your code for readability

String is a real class in Java
Use equals, not ==, to compare strings

Allocate arrays in one step or in two steps

If two steps, loop down array and supply values

Use Math.blah() for simple math operations

Math.random, Math.sin, Math.cos, Math.pow, etc.

Simple input from command window

Use command line for strings supplied at program startup
Use Scanner to read values after prompts
67

Neither is very important for most real-life applications

2015 Marty Hall

Questions?
More info:
http://courses.coreservlets.com/Course-Materials/java.html General Java programming tutorial
http://www.coreservlets.com/java-8-tutorial/ Java 8 tutorial
http://courses.coreservlets.com/java-training.html Customized Java training courses, at public venues or onsite at your organization
http://coreservlets.com/ JSF 2, PrimeFaces, Java 7 or 8, Ajax, jQuery, Hadoop, RESTful Web Services, Android, HTML5, Spring, Hibernate, Servlets, JSP, GWT, and other Java EE training
Many additional free tutorials at coreservlets.com (JSF, Android, Ajax, Hadoop, and lots more)

Customized Java EE Training: http://courses.coreservlets.com/

Java 7, Java 8, JSF 2, PrimeFaces, Android, JSP, Ajax, jQuery, Spring MVC, RESTful Web Services, GWT, Hadoop.
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