Chapter 8 Objects and Classes

Chapter 8 Objects and Classes
Liang, Introduction to Java Programming, Eighth Edition, (c) 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rig
hts reserved. 0132130807 1
Motivations
After learning the preceding chapters, you are capable of
solving many programming problems using selections,
loops, methods, and arrays. However, these Java features
are not sufficient for developing graphical user interfaces
and large scale software systems. Suppose you want to
develop a graphical user interface as shown below. How
do you program it?
Objectives
 To describe objects and classes, and use classes to model objects (§8.2).
 To use UML graphical notations to describe classes and objects (§8.2).
 To demonstrate defining classes and creating objects (§8.3).
 To create objects using constructors (§8.4).
 To access objects via object reference variables (§8.5).
 To define a reference variable using a reference type (§8.5.1).
 To access an object’s data and methods using the object member access operator
(.) (§8.5.2).
 To define data fields of reference types and assign default values for an object’s
data fields (§8.5.3).
 To distinguish between object reference variables and primitive data type
variables (§8.5.4).
 To use classes Date, Random, and JFrame in the Java library (§8.6).
 To distinguish between instance and static variables and methods (§8.7).
 To define private data fields with appropriate get and set methods (§8.8).
 To encapsulate data fields to make classes easy to maintain (§8.9).
 To develop methods with object arguments and differentiate between primitive-
type arguments and object-type arguments (§8.10).
 To store and process objects in arrays (§8.11).
OO Programming Concepts
Object-oriented programming (OOP) involves
programming using objects. An object represents
an entity in the real world that can be distinctly
identified. For example, a student, a desk, a circle,
a button, and even a loan can all be viewed as
objects. An object has a unique identity, state, and
behaviors. The state of an object consists of a set
of data fields (also known as properties) with their
current values. The behavior of an object is defined
by a set of methods.
Objects
Class Name: Circle A class template
Data Fields:
radius is _______
Methods:
getArea
Circle Object 1 Circle Object 2 Circle Object 3 Three objects of

the Circle class
Data Fields: Data Fields: Data Fields:
radius is 10 radius is 25 radius is 125
An object has both a state and behavior. The state

defines the object, and the behavior defines what
the object does.
Classes
Classes are constructs that define objects of the
same type. A Java class uses variables to define
data fields and methods to define behaviors.
Additionally, a class provides a special type of
methods, known as constructors, which are
invoked to construct objects from the class.
Classes
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;
}
}
UML Class Diagram
UML Class Diagram Circle Class name
radius: double Data fields
Circle() Constructors and

Circle(newRadius: double) methods
getArea(): double
circle2: Circle circle3: Circle UML notation

circle1: Circle
for objects
radius = 1.0 radius = 25 radius = 125
Example: Defining Classes and
Creating Objects
 Objective: Demonstrate creating objects,
accessing data, and using methods.
TestCircle1 Run
Example: Defining Classes and
Creating Objects
 Objective: Demonstrate creating objects,
accessing data, and using methods.
TV
TestTV Run
Constructors
Constructors are a special
Circle() { kind of methods that are
} invoked to construct objects.
Circle(double newRadius) {
radius = newRadius;
}
Constructors, cont.
A constructor with no parameters is referred to as
a no-arg constructor.
· Constructors must have the same name as the
class itself.
· Constructors do not have a return type—not
even void.
· Constructors are invoked using the new
operator when an object is created. Constructors
play the role of initializing objects.
Creating Objects Using
Constructors
new ClassName();
Example:
new Circle();
new Circle(5.0);
Default Constructor
A class may be declared without constructors. In
this case, a no-arg constructor with an empty body
is implicitly declared in the class. This constructor,
called a default constructor, is provided
automatically only if no constructors are explicitly
declared in the class.
Declaring Object Reference Variables
To reference an object, assign the object to a reference
variable.
To declare a reference variable, use the syntax:
ClassName objectRefVar;
Example:
Circle myCircle;
Declaring/Creating Objects
in a Single Step
ClassName objectRefVar = new ClassName();
Assign object reference Create an object

Example:
Circle myCircle = new Circle();
Accessing Objects
 Referencing the object’s data:
objectRefVar.data
e.g., myCircle.radius
 Invoking the object’s method:

objectRefVar.methodName(arguments)
e.g., myCircle.getArea()
animation
Trace Code
Declare myCircle
Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); no value

myCircle
SCircle yourCircle = new Circle();
yourCircle.radius = 100;
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
animation
Trace Code, cont.
Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value

myCircle
yourCircle.radius = 100; Assign object : Circle

reference to myCircle
radius: 5.0
animation
Trace Code, cont.

myCircle
radius: 5.0
yourCircle no value
Declare yourCircle
animation
Trace Code, cont.

myCircle
radius: 5.0
yourCircle no value
: Circle
Create a new radius: 0.0
Circle object
animation
Trace Code, cont.

myCircle
radius: 5.0
yourCircle reference value
Assign object
reference to yourCircle : Circle
radius: 1.0
animation
Trace Code, cont.

myCircle
radius: 5.0
yourCircle reference value
: Circle
Change radius in radius: 100.0
yourCircle
Caution
Recall that you use
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()? The answer is no. All the methods used before this
chapter are static methods, which are defined using the static keyword.
However, getArea() is non-static. It must be invoked from an object
using
objectRefVar.methodName(arguments) (e.g., myCircle.getArea()).
More explanations will be given in the section on “Static Variables,

Constants, and Methods.”
Reference Data Fields
The data fields can be of reference types. For example,
the following Student class contains a data field name of
the String type.
public class Student {

String name; // name has default value null
int age; // age has default value 0
boolean isScienceMajor; // isScienceMajor has default value false
char gender; // c has default value '\u0000'
}
The null Value
If a data field of a reference type does not
reference any object, the data field holds a
special literal value, null.
Default Value for a Data Field
The default value of a data field is null for a
reference type, 0 for a numeric type, false for a
boolean type, and '\u0000' for a char type.
However, Java assigns no default value to a local
variable inside a method.
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Student student = new Student();
System.out.println("name? " + student.name);
System.out.println("age? " + student.age);
System.out.println("isScienceMajor? " + student.isScienceMajor);
System.out.println("gender? " + student.gender);
}
}
Example
Java assigns no default value to a local variable inside a method.
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
Differences between Variables of
Primitive Data Types and Object Types
Created using new Circle()
Primitive type int i = 1 i 1
Object type Circle c c reference c: Circle
radius = 1
Copying Variables of Primitive
Data Types and Object Types
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
Garbage Collection
As shown in the previous figure, after the
assignment statement c1 = c2, c1 points to
the same object referenced by c2. The
object previously referenced by c1 is no
longer referenced. This object is known as
garbage. Garbage is automatically
collected by JVM.
Garbage Collection, cont
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.
The Date Class
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 for the current date and time and
use its toString method to return the date and time as a string.
java.util.Date
The + sign indicates
public modifer +Date() Constructs a Date object for the current time.
+Date(elapseTime: long) Constructs a Date object for a given time in
milliseconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, GMT.
+toString(): String Returns a string representing the date and time.
+getTime(): long Returns the number of milliseconds since January 1,
1970, GMT.
+setTime(elapseTime: long): void Sets a new elapse time in the object.
The Date Class Example
For example, the following code

java.util.Date date = new java.util.Date();
System.out.println(date.toString());
displays a string like Sun Mar 09 13:50:19

EST 2003.
The Random Class
You have used Math.random() to obtain a random double
value between 0.0 and 1.0 (excluding 1.0). A more useful
random number generator is provided in the java.util.Random
class.
java.util.Random
+Random() Constructs a Random object with the current time as its seed.
+Random(seed: long) Constructs a Random object with a specified seed.
+nextInt(): int Returns a random int value.
+nextInt(n: int): int Returns a random int value between 0 and n (exclusive).
+nextLong(): long Returns a random long value.
+nextDouble(): double Returns a random double value between 0.0 and 1.0 (exclusive).
+nextFloat(): float Returns a random float value between 0.0F and 1.0F (exclusive).
+nextBoolean(): boolean Returns a random boolean value.
The Random Class Example
If two Random objects have the same seed, they will generate
identical sequences of numbers. For example, the following code
creates two Random objects with the same seed 3.
Random random1 = new Random(3);
System.out.print("From random1: ");
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
System.out.print(random1.nextInt(1000) + " ");
Random random2 = new Random(3);
System.out.print("\nFrom random2: ");
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
System.out.print(random2.nextInt(1000) + " ");
From random1: 734 660 210 581 128 202 549 564 459 961
From random2: 734 660 210 581 128 202 549 564 459 961
Displaying GUI Components
When you develop programs to create graphical user
interfaces, you will use Java classes such as JFrame,
JButton, JRadioButton, JComboBox, and JList to
create frames, buttons, radio buttons, combo boxes,
lists, and so on. Here is an example that creates two
windows using the JFrame class.
TestFrame Run
animation
Trace Code Declare, create,
and assign in one
statement
JFrame frame1 = new JFrame(); frame1 reference
frame1.setTitle("Window 1");
: JFrame
frame1.setSize(200, 150); title:
frame1.setVisible(true); JFrame width:
frame2 = new JFrame(); height:
visible:
frame2.setSize(200, 150);
frame2.setVisible(true);
animation
Trace Code
Set title property
: JFrame
frame1.setSize(200, 150); title: "Window 1"
frame1.setVisible(true); JFrame width:
frame2 = new JFrame(); height:
visible:
animation
Trace Code
: JFrame Set size property
frame1.setVisible(true); width: 200
JFrame frame2 = new JFrame(); height: 150
visible:
animation
Trace Code
: JFrame
frame1.setVisible(true); width: 200 Set visible
property
visible: true
animation
Trace Code
: JFrame
visible: true
Declare, create,
frame2.setSize(200, 150); frame2 reference and assign in one
frame2.setVisible(true); statement
: JFrame
title:
width:
height:
visible:
animation
Trace Code
: JFrame
visible: true
frame2.setSize(200, 150); frame2 reference
Set title property
: JFrame
title: "Window 2"
width:
height:
visible:
animation
Trace Code
: JFrame
visible: true
: JFrame
title: "Window 2" Set size property
width: 200
height: 150
visible:
animation
Trace Code
: JFrame
visible: true
: JFrame
title: "Window 2"
Set visible
width: 200
property
height: 150
visible: true
Adding GUI Components to Window
You can add graphical user interface components,
such as buttons, labels, text fields, combo boxes,
lists, and menus, to the window. The components are
defined using classes. Here is an example to create
buttons, labels, text fields, check boxes, radio
buttons, and combo boxes.
GUIComponents Run
Instance
Variables, and Methods
Instance variables belong to a specific instance.
Instance methods are invoked by an instance of

the class.
Static Variables, Constants,
and Methods
Static variables are shared by all the instances of the
class.
Static methods are not tied to a specific object.

Static constants are final variables shared by all the
instances of the class.
and Methods, cont.
To declare static variables, constants, and methods,

use the static modifier.
and Methods, cont.
instantiate
circle1 Memory
radius = 1 1 radius After two Circle

Circle numberOfObjects = 2 objects were created,
numberOfObjects
radius: double is 2.
numberOfObjects: int
2 numberOfObjects
getNumberOfObjects(): int
+getArea(): double instantiate circle2
radius = 5 5 radius
UML Notation: numberOfObjects = 2
+: public variables or methods
underline: static variables or methods
Example of
Using Instance and Class Variables
and Method
Objective: Demonstrate the roles of
instance and class variables and their
uses. This example adds a class variable
numberOfObjects to track the number of
Circle objects created.
Circle2
TestCircle2 Run
Visibility Modifiers and
Accessor/Mutator Methods
By default, the class, variable, or method can be
accessed by any class in the same package.
 public
The class, data, or method is visible to any class in any
package.
 private
The data or methods can be accessed only by the declaring
class.
The get and set methods are used to read and modify private
properties.
package p1; package p2;
public class C1 { public class C2 { public class C3 {
public int x; void aMethod() { void aMethod() {
int y; C1 o = new C1(); C1 o = new C1();
private int z; can access o.x; can access o.x;
can access o.y; cannot access o.y;
public void m1() { cannot access o.z; cannot access o.z;
}
void m2() { can invoke o.m1(); can invoke o.m1();
} can invoke o.m2(); cannot invoke o.m2();
private void m3() { cannot invoke o.m3(); cannot invoke o.m3();
} } }
} } }
package p1; package p2;

class C1 { public class C2 { public class C3 {
... can access C1 cannot access C1;
} } can access C2;
}
The private modifier restricts access to within a class, the default

modifier restricts access to within a package, and the public
modifier enables unrestricted access.
NOTE
An object cannot access its private members, as shown in (b).
It is OK, however, if the object is declared in its own class, as
shown in (a).
public class Foo { public class Test {
private boolean x; public static void main(String[] args) {
Foo foo = new Foo();
public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println(foo.x);
Foo foo = new Foo(); System.out.println(foo.convert(foo.x));
System.out.println(foo.x); }
System.out.println(foo.convert()); }
}
private int convert(boolean b) {

return x ? 1 : -1;
}
}
(b) This is wrong because x and convert are private in Foo.
(a) This is OK because object foo is used inside the Foo class
Why Data Fields Should Be
private?
To protect data.
To make class easy to maintain.
Example of
Data Field Encapsulation
Circle
The - sign indicates
private modifier -radius: double The radius of this circle (default: 1.0).
-numberOfObjects: int The number of circle objects created.
+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.
Circle3 TestCircle3 Run

Passing Objects to Methods
 Passing by value for primitive type value
(the value is passed to the parameter)
 Passing by value for reference type value
(the value is the reference to the object)
TestPassObject Run
Passing Objects to Methods, cont.
Stack Pass by value (here

the value is 5)
Space required for the
printAreas method Pass by value
int times: 5 (here the value is
Circle c: reference the reference for
the object) Heap
Space required for the
main method
int n: 5 A circle
myCircle: reference object
Array of Objects
Circle[] circleArray = new Circle[10];
An array of objects is actually an array of

reference variables. So invoking
circleArray[1].getArea() involves two
levels of referencing as shown in the next
figure. circleArray references to the entire
array. circleArray[1] references to a
Circle object.
Array of Objects, cont.
Circle[] circleArray = new Circle[10];
circleArray reference circleArray[0] Circle object 0

circleArray[1]
… Circle object 1
circleArray[9] Circle object 9
Array of Objects, cont.
Summarizing the areas of the circles
TotalArea Run

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Chapter 8 Objects and Classes

Circle Object 1 Circle Object 2 Circle Object 3 Three objects of

An object has both a state and behavior. The state

/** Construct a circle object */

/** Return the area of this circle */

radius: double Data fields

Circle() Constructors and

circle2: Circle circle3: Circle UML notation

To declare a reference variable, use the syntax:

Assign object reference Create an object

 Invoking the object’s method:

Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); no value

Trace Code, cont.

Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); no value

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

Trace Code, cont.

Circle myCircle = new Circle(5.0); reference value

yourCircle.radius = 100; Assign object : Circle

Trace Code, cont.

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

Trace Code, cont.

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

Trace Code, cont.

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

yourCircle reference value

Trace Code, cont.

yourCircle.radius = 100; : Circle

yourCircle reference value

objectRefVar.methodName(arguments) (e.g., myCircle.getArea()).

More explanations will be given in the section on “Static Variables,

public class Student {

public class Test {

Compilation error: variables not

Object type Circle c c reference c: Circle

Object type assignment c1 = c2

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

displays a string like Sun Mar 09 13:50:19

Instance variables belong to a specific instance.

Instance methods are invoked by an instance of

Static methods are not tied to a specific object.

To declare static variables, constants, and methods,

radius = 1 1 radius After two Circle

package p1; package p2;

The private modifier restricts access to within a class, the default

private int convert(boolean b) {

To make class easy to maintain.

+Circle() Constructs a default circle object.

Circle3 TestCircle3 Run

Stack Pass by value (here

An array of objects is actually an array of

circleArray reference circleArray[0] Circle object 0

circleArray[9] Circle object 9

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