JAVA Concepts

Classes and Objects

A class is a piece of the program’s source code that
describes a particular type of objects. OO programmers
write class definitions.
An object is called an instance of a class. A program can
create and use more than one object (instance) of the
same class.

3-2
 Class Object
A blueprint for objects
of a particular type
Attributes
Defines the structure
(number, types) of the
attributes
Behaviors
Defines available
behaviors of its
objects

3-3
Class: Car Object: a car

Attributes: Attributes:
String model model = "Mustang"
Color color color = Color.YELLOW
int numPassengers numPassengers = 0
double amountOfGas amountOfGas = 16.5

Behaviors: Behaviors:
Add/remove a passenger
Get the tank filled
Report when out of gas

3-4
Concept of OOPS
OOP concepts in Java are the main ideas behind Java’s
Object Oriented Programming. They are an abstraction,
encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
Grasping them is key to understanding how Java works.
Basically, Java OOP concepts let us create working
methods and variables, then re-use all or part of them
without compromising security.
Abstraction. Abstraction means using simple things to represent
complexity. We all know how to turn the TV on, but we don’t need
to know how it works in order to enjoy it. In Java, abstraction
means simple things like objects, classes, and variables represent
more complex underlying code and data. This is important because
it lets avoid repeating the same work multiple times.
Encapsulation. This is the practice of keeping fields within a class
private, then providing access to them via public methods. It’s a
protective barrier that keeps the data and code safe within the class
itself. This way, we can re-use objects like code components or
variables without allowing open access to the data system-wide.
Inheritance. This is a special feature of Object Oriented
Programming in Java. It lets programmers create new classes
that share some of the attributes of existing classes. This lets
us build on previous work without reinventing the wheel.
Polymorphism. This Java OOP concept lets programmers
use the same word to mean different things in different
contexts. One form of polymorphism in Java is method
overloading. That’s when different meanings are implied by
the code itself. The other form is method overriding. That’s
when the different meanings are implied by the values of the
supplied variables. See more on this below.
How OOP Concepts in Java Work
OOP, concepts in Java work by letting programmers create
components that can be re-used in different ways, but still maintain
security.
How Abstraction Works
Abstraction refers to the quality of dealing with ideas rather than
events.
Abstraction as an OOP concept in Java works by letting
programmers create useful, reusable tools. For example, a
programmer can create several different types of objects. These can
be variables, functions, or data structures. Programmers can also
create different classes of objects. These are ways to define the
objects.
For instance, a class of variable might be an address. The class
might specify that each address object shall have a name, street,
city, and zip code. The objects, in this case, might be employee
How Encapsulation Works
Encapsulation lets us re-use functionality without
jeopardizing security. It’s a powerful OOP concept in Java
because it helps us save a lot of time. For example, we
may create a piece of code that calls specific data from a
database. It may be useful to reuse that code with other
databases or processes. Encapsulation lets us do that while
keeping our original data private. It also lets us alter our
original code without breaking it for others who have
adopted it in the meantime.
How Inheritance Works
Inheritance is another labor-saving Java OOP concept. It
works by letting a new class adopt the properties of
another. We call the inheriting class a subclass or a child
class. The original class is often called the parent. We use
the keyword extends to define a new class that inherits
properties from an old class.
How Polymorphism Works
 Polymorphism in Java works by using a reference to a parent class to
affect an object in the child class. We might create a class called “horse”
by extending the “animal” class. That class might also implement the
“professional racing” class. The “horse” class is “polymorphic,” since it
inherits attributes of both the “animal” and “professional racing” class.
 Two more examples of polymorphism in Java are method overriding and
method overloading.
 In methodoverriding, the child class can use the OOP polymorphism
concept to override a method of its parent class. That allows a
programmer to use one method in different ways depending on whether
it’s invoked by an object of the parent class or an object of the child class.
 In method overloading, a single method may perform different functions
depending on the context in which it’s called. That is, a single method
name might work in different ways depending on what arguments are
passed to it.