Java objects

  • In Java, objects are essentially instances of classes. They represent real-world entities or concepts and contain both data and behaviors, facilitating organized and modular software design.

Common Types of Java Classes

In Java, classes are the fundamental building blocks of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). They define the structure and behavior of objects, serving as templates or blueprints from which objects are created. Java programs typically consist of multiple classes, each designed to fulfill a specific role. One Java class that you should be familliar with is:

  1. Utility Classes: Utility classes contain static methods that provide common utility functions. These classes are not meant to be instantiated, and they often involve operations such as mathematical calculations, string manipulation, or date formatting. The Math class is an example of a utility class.
    • Java Arrays Class
    • Java HashMap Class
    • Java LinkedList Class
import java.util.Arrays;

public class ArraySortExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] numbers = {5, 2, 9, 1, 5, 6};
        Arrays.sort(numbers);
        System.out.println(Arrays.toString(numbers));
    }
}
String[] words = {"main"};
ArraySortExample.main(words);

Alt text

Java Objects

An object in Java is a basic unit of Object-Oriented Programming and represents real-life entities. Objects are the instances of a class that are created to use the attributes and methods of a class. A typical Java program creates many objects, which as you know, interact by invoking methods. An object consists of :

  1. State: It is represented by attributes of an object. It also reflects the properties of an object.
  2. Behavior: It is represented by the methods of an object. It also reflects the response of an object with other objects.

Declaring Objects

When an object of a class is created, the class is said to be instantiated. All the instances share the attributes and the behavior of the class. But the values of those attributes, i.e. the state are unique for each object. A single class may have any number of instances.

As we declare variables like (type name;). This notifies the compiler that we will use the name to refer to data whose type is type. With a primitive variable, this declaration also reserves the proper amount of memory for the variable. So for reference variables , the type must be strictly a concrete class name. In general, we can’t create objects of an abstract class or an interface.

Initializing a Java Object

The new operator instantiates a class by allocating memory for a new object and returning a reference to that memory. The new operator also invokes the class constructor.

public class Dog {
    public String Name; 
    public int Age;

    public void Bark(int times) {
        for (int i = 0; i < times; i++) {
            System.out.println("Bark"); 
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) { 
        Dog dog = new Dog();

        dog.Bark(5);
    }
}
Dog.main(words);

Calling a non-void method

It’s possible to call a non-void method on an object so that it returns a value, the type of which is specified with the method.

public class Dog {
    public String Name; //instance variables
    public int Age;

    public Dog(String name, int age) { //construction method
        Name = name;
        Age = age;
    }

    public String getName() { //non-void method that returns a String
        return Name;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) { //main code
        Dog d = new Dog("Larry", 4);
        System.out.println(d.getName());
    }
}

Dog.main(null);

Popcorn Hacks

Modify the code below (the same code as above) to demonstrate one of the following:

  • An additional Non-void method
  • Multiple uses of the same Non-void method on different objects
public class Dog {
    public String Name; //instance variables
    public int Age;

    public Dog(String name, int age) { //construction method
        Name = name;
        Age = age;
    }

    public String getName() { //non-void method that returns a String
        return Name;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) { //main code
        Dog d = new Dog("Larry", 4);
        System.out.println(d.getName());
    }
}

Dog.main(null);

String Objects

String objects are built-in objects in Java that you’re probably pretty familiar with, but it also functions like a class, with the following properties:

  • String objects can be initialized with the new keyword
  • Method that acts upon String objects can’t change the String itself, it is inmmutable.
  • String objects can be concatenated using the + operator, creating a new string that is the combination of the other two strings
  • Escape sequences can be used to print characters that are otherwise unavailable, using the “" (backslash) symbol
    • " creates a double quote
    • \\ creates a regular backslash (I actually had to use 4 backslashes for this since markdown also recognizes this combination)
    • \n creates a newline
public class Strings_demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) { //main code
        String s1 = "hello"; // The way you are probably used to for string objects
        String s2 = new String("hello"); // an alternate method to create the same string variable
        System.out.println(s1);// these two println statements should print the same thing
        System.out.println(s2);

        String s3 = s1+s2; // s3 is a concatenation of s1 and s2
        System.out.println(s3);
        System.out.println(s1); // the method doesn't actually change the String itself

        String s4 = new String("In order to type out a \\\\ string in Java String, you need 4 \\'s \n You need 3 \\'s and 1 \" to type out a \\\""); // a demonstration of the escape sequences
        System.out.println(s4);
    }
}
Strings_demo.main(null);

Here are some of the String methods we use:

Syntax Definition
String(String str) Constructs a new String object with the same sequence of characters as str
int length() Returns the number of characters in the String
String substring(int from, in to) Returns the substring beginning at from to one before to
String substring(int from) Returns the substring beginning at from to the end
int indexOf(String str) Returns the first occurence of str, returns -1 if not found
boolean equals(String other) Returns true if this is equal to other and vice versa
int compareTo(String other) Returns a value <0 if this is less than other, 0 if they are equal and a value >- if this is greater than other 
public class Strings_demo_2 {
    public static void main(String[] args) { //main code
        String s1 = "hello"; // Strings for demonstration
        String s2 = new String("hihihellothere"); // Construction using the method
        System.out.println(s2.length());

        String s3 = s2.substring(4,9); // creating a substring of s1 from index 4 to 9-1
        System.out.println(s3);
        System.out.println(s1); // these should be the same

        System.out.println(s2.indexOf(s1)); //returns the first occurence of hello in hihihellothere (4)

        System.out.println(s2.equals(s1)); // returns if hello is the same as hihihellothere (it's not)
        System.out.println(s2.compareTo(s1)); // compares hihihellothere to hello, since it greater since h=h and i>e, this returns a positive number
        System.out.println(s1.compareTo(s2)); // the reversal of the above, returns a negative number
        System.out.println(s3.equals(s1)); // returns if hello is the same as hello (it's)
        System.out.println(s3.compareTo(s1)); // compares hello to hello, since they are the same, this returns a 0

        System.out.println(s1);// none of these methods affect the original strings, since Strings are immutatble
        System.out.println(s2);
        System.out.println(s3);
    }
}
Strings_demo_2.main(null);

Popcorn Hacks

Using the methods above, create a method that is able to return the position of a substring in a string and use s.o.pl to prove it.

Wrapper Classes

You may remember the Wrapper classes from before, this will present two additional wrapper classes - Integer and Double

  • Integer (not int - notice the non-shortend word and capitalization)
    • int is a primitive data type, and Integer is a wrapper class
Syntax Definition
Integer(int value) Constructs a new Integer object representing the value
Integer.MIN_VALUE the minimum value represented by a int or Integer
Integer.MAX_VALUE the maximum value represented by a int or Integer
int intValue() Returns the value of Integer as int
  • Double (not double)
    • double is a primitive data type, Double is a wrapper class
Syntax Definition
Double(double value) Constructs a new Double object representing the value
double doubleValue() Returns the value of the Double as a double

(not the most exciting thing I know)

ok but why

In Java, Wrapper classes are used to convert between primitive data types (int, boolean) and only store a single value and Reference types (String, ArrayList). It provides a way for us to use primitive datas as objects

Autoboxing and Unboxing

As of Java 5.0, autoboxing and unboxing are added

Autoboxing is the automatic process that Java compiler uses to convert primitive types and their respective Wrapper classes

Unboxing is the opposite, comverting Wrapper classes to primitive types

public class Unboxing_stream {
    public static void main(String[] args) { //main code
        int i1 = 10; // primitive data types
        double d1 = 25.5;

        Integer I1 = new Integer(i1); // Construction of the Wrapper classes version (superior)
        Double D1 = new Double(d1);

        System.out.println(i1); // The values correspond to their original values
        System.out.println(I1);
        System.out.println(d1);
        System.out.println(D1);

        int i2 = I1.intValue()+5; //usage of the intValue function
        System.out.println(i2);
        double d2 = D1.intValue()-1.3; //usage of the doubleValue function
        System.out.println(d2);

        System.out.println(Integer.MIN_VALUE); // the actual values of the MIN_VALUE and MAX_VALUE
        System.out.println(Integer.MAX_VALUE);

        Integer I2 = i1; // autoboxing bypasses the need for contructor methods
        Double D2 = d1;
        System.out.println(I2);
        System.out.println(D2);

        int i3 = I2+10; // unboxing without using any methods
        double d3 = D2-1.3;
        System.out.println(i3);
        System.out.println(d3);
    }
}
Unboxing_stream.main(null);

the Math class

Talking about the java object here, math offers several useful method for mathmatical usages.

  • Math methods are static, they belong to the class instead of an object and can be used without creating an object
  • the Math class is already imported as part of java.lane.Math
    • However, you can use the methods without using the Math prefix with the import command import static java.lang.Math.*
Syntax Definition
static int abs(int x) Returns the absolute value of a int
static double abs(double x) Returns the absolute value of a double
static double pow(double base, double exponent) Returns the value of base to the exponent power
static double random() Returns a random double between 0.0 and 1.0 
import static java.lang.Math.*; // implicit importation 

public class maths_demo {
    public static void main(String[] args) { //main code
        double a=12.5; // ints we will use
        int b=-5;
        int c=4;

        System.out.println(abs(a)); // prints the absolute values of a and b
        System.out.println(abs(b)); // should have no effect on a but b should be turned to its opposite (the positive number)

        System.out.println(pow(b,c)); // prints the result of b to c

        System.out.println(random()*10>4); // returns true if a random number from 0 to 10 is greater than 4, this should return different values with different runs.
    }
}

maths_demo.main(null);

Popcorn hacks

Create a variation of the number guessing game and try to use these methods in. Bonus points for creativity.

Hacks

Complete all popcorn hacks

Quiz