Java: Classes

This assumes an understanding of Object Orientated Programming. It is intended as a quick refresher to the Java implementation of OOP, nothing more. Check my separate IB Computer Science teaching notes on Object Orientated Programming for a more thorough grounding into the theory involved and its use in Java.

An example Java class

package com.pbaumgarten.basics;

public class DemoClass{
    private int data;           // Instance variable - note the 'private' access modifier

    DemoClass() {             // Constructor - must be same name as the class
        data = 0;               // Initialise our instance variables
    }

    public void setData( int i ) {
        data = i;               // Set the instance variable
    }

    public void setDataAlternative( int data ) {
        /* Because the parameter variable is the same name as the instance variable, we use the "this" keyword to specify when we want to access the instance variable. */
        this.data = data;
    }

    public void doubleData() {
        data = 2 * data;
    }

    public int getData() {
        return( data );
    }

    public static void main( String args[] ) {
        DemoClass obj = new DemoClass();        // Instantiate the object
        obj.setData( 10 );                      // Call the .setData() method
        obj.doubleData();                       // Call the .doubleData() method
        int val = obj.getData();                // Call the .getData() method
        System.out.println( val );
    }
}

Before moving on, ensure you understand the significance of:

Instance variables. These are the variables that belong to each object instance of the class. In the above example, data is an instance variable.
Constructors. This is the code executed when the object is instantiated. It is always public, and is defined by being a function of the same name as the class itself. In the above example, the ExerciseA01() function that initialises data to zero is the constructor. Constructors may accept parameters, and may be overloaded (see below).
Instantiation. This is the process of creating an object based on a class. In our example, the obj object is being instantiated in the first line of the main().

Inheritance

The magic happens with the use key word extends

public class Automobile {
    String registration;
    String owner;

    Automobile(String registration, String owner){
        this.registration = registration;
        this.owner = owner;
        System.out.println("Vehicle "+registration+" registered to "+owner);

    }
    String getOwner() {
        return owner;
    }
}

public class Motorcycle extends Automobile {
    String make;
    String model;
    String serialnumber;
    int enginesize;

    Motorcycle(String registration, String owner, String make, String model){
        super(registration, owner);
        this.make = make;
        this.model = model;
    }

    void printRegistration() {
        System.out.println("Motorcycle: "+registration);
        System.out.println("Owner: "+owner);
        System.out.println("Make: "+make);
        System.out.println("Model: "+model);
    }

    public static void main() {
        Motorcycle m = new Motorcycle("VD-12345","John Doe","Harley","Breakout");
        m.printRegistration();
        System.out.println("The owner is: " + m.getOwner() );
    }
}

Encapsulation

Encapsulation binds the data with the code that manipulates it; and keep the data and the code safe from external interference.

One key mechanism for enforcing encapsulation is the use of access modifiers. The access modifiers in Java are:

public – visible to the world
protected – visible to the package and all sub classes
default (no access modifier provided) - visible to the package
private – visible to the class only

Example:

public class A {
   private int x;

   public void setX( int x ) {
      this.x = x;
   }

   public int getX() {
      return x;
   }
}

public class B {
   public static void main() {
      A a = new A();
      a.setX( 13 );
      System.out.println( a.getX() );
      a.x = 14;      // this will cause an error as x is private
      System.out.println( a.getX() );
   }
}

Polymorphism: Overloading

Multiple functions with the same name but different parameter inputs. Java will determine which function to run based on which matches the set of parameters you provide.

void driveForward() {           // First occurance of driveForward(), no parameter expected
    speed = 60;
}

void driveForward(int s) {      // Overloading driveForward() with one that accepts 1 parameter
    speed = s;
}

Polymorphism: Overriding

When a function in a child class has the same name as a function in the parent class, the child class' version will take precedence.