Java SE 7 Programming Essentials

Learn core programming concepts and technologies on the leading software development language This full-color book covers fundamental Java programming concepts and skills for those new to software development and programming. Taking a straightforward and direct approach,Java SE 7 Programming Essentials provides a solid foundational knowledge of programming topics. Each chapter begins with a list of topic areas, and author Michael Ernest provides clear and concise discussion of these core areas. The chapters contain review questions and suggested labs, so the reader can measure their understanding of the chapter topics. Covers topics such as working with Java data types, using operators and decision constructs, creating and using arrays, and much more Includes additional learning tutorials and tools Puts the focus on Oracle's new Oracle Certified Associate (OCA): Java SE 7 Programmer (1Z0-803) exam This must-have resource offers new programmers a solid understanding of the Java SE 7 programming language.

Table of Contents:
Introduction xvii Chapter 1 Introducing the Basics of Java 1 Understanding Java Class Structure 1 Distinguishing between Classes and Objects 5 Understanding Other Elements of Java Class Structure 6 Writing a main() Method 7 Importing Other Java Classes 10 Understanding Package Declarations 13 Understanding Variable Scope in Java Code 14 Understanding Program State 15 The Essentials and Beyond 16 Chapter 2 Applying Data Types in Java Programming 19 Creating, Using, and Destroying Objects 19 Distinguishing between Object References and Primitives 23 Declaring and Initializing Variables 26 Default Initialization of Variables 30 Reading and Writing Object Fields 32 Using the StringBuilder Class and Its Methods 34 Creating and Manipulating Strings 39 The Essentials and Beyond 42 Chapter 3 Using Java Operators and Conditional Logic 45 Using Java Operators 45 Understanding Operator Types and Properties 48 Precedence and Associativity 50 Using Separators 52 Using Postfix/Prefix Operators 52 Using Unary Operators 53 Using Multiplicative and Additive Operators 55 Using Shift Operators 56 Using Relational Operators 56 Using Equality Operators 57 Using Bitwise and Logical Operators 58 Using Conditional Operators 59 Using Assignment Operators 61 Using Parentheses to Control Operators 62 Understanding Object Equality 64 Using if and if/else Statements 67 Using a switch Statement 69 The Essentials and Beyond 71 Chapter 4 Using Java Arrays 75 Understanding Java Arrays 75 Using a One-Dimensional Array 78 Declaring an Array 78 Instantiating an Array 79 Populating an Array with a Loop 80 Populating an Array without a Loop 81 Using an Array 82 Using a String Object as a Character Array 84 Using System.arraycopy() 85 Using Arrays of Other Types 86 Understanding the Arrays Class 87 Using a Multi-Dimensional Array 87 Declaring a Multi-Dimensional Array 88 Instantiating and Using a Multi-Dimensional Array 88 Using an ArrayList Object 90 Understanding ArrayList Support for Array Features 90 Instantiating an ArrayList Class 92 Consuming the ArrayList API 93 The Essentials and Beyond 94 Chapter 5 Using Loops in Java Code 97 Applying while Loops 97 Choosing a Useful while Test 98 Watching Out for Infinite Loops 100 Applying do/while Loops 102 Applying for and For-Each Loops 103 Using for Loops 104 Nesting Loops 106 Avoiding Useless and Infinite Loops 108 Using For-Each Loops 109 Using the For-Each Loop with a Collections Type 110 Comparing Loop Constructs 112 Using continue and break Statements 112 Using the continue Statement 113 Using the break Statement 114 Using Labeled Statements 115 The Essentials and Beyond 116 Chapter 6 Encapsulating Data and Exposing Methods in Java 119 Encapsulating Data 119 Understanding Data Hiding 120 Hiding the Data 124 Understanding Encapsulation 125 Understanding Mutability 127 Using Final Classes 128 Exposing Data through Methods 129 Understanding the Bean Model 129 Distinguishing Methods from Data in a Class 131 Validating Incoming Parameters 131 Restricting Range 132 Inducing Side Effects 133 Choosing Methods to Make Public 134 Applying Access Modifiers 135 Working with Packaged Classes 137 Using Access Modifiers with Package‑Aware Classes 139 Using Default Access with Class Members 140 Understanding the protected Access Modifier 142 Abstracting Data 143 The Essentials and Beyond 144 Chapter 7 Using Java Methods to Communicate 147 Designing Methods 147 Understanding Method Modifiers 148 Choosing Modifiers 149 Choosing Return Types 151 Choosing Parameters 154 Naming Methods 156 Overloading Methods 158 Understanding Method Signatures 159 Supporting Multiple Parameter Lists 160 Allowing for a Variable Number of Parameters 161 Chaining Overloaded Methods 163 Declaring Methods and Fields static 164 Passing Data among Methods 167 Understanding Primitive Parameters 167 Understanding Reference Parameters 168 Returning Object References 169 Understanding Pass-by-Value 170 The Essentials and Beyond 170 Chapter 8 Using Java Constructors 173 Using the Default Constructor 173 Defining Alternate Constructors 176 Hiding (Replacing) the Default Constructor 177 Limiting Constructor Access 178 Using Packages to Encapsulate Constructors 180 Writing a Proxy Construction Class 185 Requiring Parameters 188 Adding Parameters to Constructors 188 Overriding Default Initialization 188 Disallowing Default Construction 189 Using Other Objects for Initialization 191 Overloading Constructors 192 Chaining Overloaded Constructors 193 Coupling Objects with Constructors 196 Creating a Singleton Object 198 The Essentials and Beyond 199 Chapter 9 Inheriting Code and Data in Java 203 Extending a Class 203 Understanding What Inheritance Provides 204 Extending the Parent Class 206 Removing the final Keyword 206 Observing the Equality Contract 207 Observing Java's Single Inheritance Rule 208 Understanding How Inheritance Works 209 Using the super Keyword 212 Passing Parameters to a Parent Constructor 212 Choosing a Parent Constructor 213 Overriding a Method 214 Using the @Override Annotation 216 Modifying or Replacing an Inherited Method 217 Prohibiting Method Overrides 219 Casting Objects 220 Implementing Polymorphic Behavior 223 Organizing Objects by Type 223 Using Method Names to Effect Polymorphism 224 The Essentials and Beyond 227 Chapter 10 Understanding Java Interfaces and Abstract Classes 231 Understanding Abstract Types 231 Using Abstract Classes 235 Understanding the Template Method Pattern 239 Applying the Template Method Pattern 240 Enforcing a Pattern 241 Using Interfaces 242 Planning for Variation 247 Reviewing Polymorphism 248 Using the enum Type 249 Distinguishing between Abstract and Concrete References 254 The Essentials and Beyond 255 Chapter 11 Throwing and Catching Exceptions in Java 259 Understanding the Role Exceptions Play 259 Understanding Exceptions 260 Handling Exceptions 263 Using a try-catch Block 264 Catching an Exception 265 Throwing an Exception 266 Using Multiple Catch Blocks 267 Using a finally Block 269 Handling Unchecked Exceptions 274 Understanding Exception Types 276 Understanding Errors 276 Understanding Unchecked Exceptions 277 Understanding Checked Exceptions 279 Calling Methods That Throw Exceptions 282 Catching a Checked Exception 282 Declaring a Checked Exception 284 Recognizing Common Exception Types 285 The Essentials and Beyond 286 Appendix A Answers to Review Questions 289 Appendix B OCA Certif ication Program 301 Certification-Objectives Map 302 Index 305