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JAVA notes Prepared by Farag Zakaria Safy Saad Master Student @ Cairo University Faculty of Computers & Information ITI-JAVA Intake 30 [email protected] This is my own study notes; please keep free to send me any errors exist or any other top you need to add. 1. Key word & reserved word key word is a word whose meaning is defined by the programming language as int,… Reserved word they have no meaning by programming language as goto,const You cannot use any key word or reserved word in defining variables 2. Allowed access modifiers for the public class are public , final , abstract , strictfp only 3. Defining memory heap size when running java applications -Xms32m defines minimum heap space as 32 mega -Xmx32m defines maximum heap space as 32 mega. Ex. java -Xms32m Xmx512m Test // run Test class with minimum heap size 32mega and maximum heap size 512 mega bytes 4. Garbage collection JVM parameters -XX:+UseSerialGC run serial garbage collection. -XX:+UseParallelGC runs parallel garbage collection. -XX:+UseParallelOldGC runs parallel compact collector -XX:ParallelCMSThreads=n runs concurrent Mark and Sweep collector with n threads. -XX:+UseConcMarkSweepGC runs Concurrent Mark and Sweep collector. 5. strictfp Marking aclass as strictfp means that any method code in the class will conform to the IEEE 754 standard rules for floating point s 6. All wrapper classes have no default constructor Wrapper classes constructors are WrapperType(Type) , Wrapper(String). see next example. 7. Byte wrapper class constructors are Byte(byte), Byte(String) ex. Byte b = new Byte(); // compilation error undefined constructor Byte() Byte b = new Byte(3); // compilation error Byte b = new Byte((byte)3); // true Byte b = 21; // true

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Page 1: Java concepts and questions

JAVA notes

Prepared by

Farag Zakaria Safy Saad

Master Student @ Cairo University

Faculty of Computers & Information

ITI-JAVA Intake 30

[email protected]

This is my own study notes; please keep free to send me any errors exist or any other top

you need to add.

1. Key word & reserved word

key word is a word whose meaning is defined by the programming language as int,…

Reserved word they have no meaning by programming language as goto,const

You cannot use any key word or reserved word in defining variables

2. Allowed access modifiers for the public class are public , final , abstract , strictfp only

3. Defining memory heap size when running java applications

-Xms32m defines minimum heap space as 32 mega

-Xmx32m defines maximum heap space as 32 mega.

Ex.

java -Xms32m –Xmx512m Test // run Test class with minimum heap size 32mega

and maximum heap size 512 mega bytes

4. Garbage collection JVM parameters

-XX:+UseSerialGC run serial garbage collection.

-XX:+UseParallelGC runs parallel garbage collection.

-XX:+UseParallelOldGC runs parallel compact collector

-XX:ParallelCMSThreads=n runs concurrent Mark and Sweep collector with

n threads.

-XX:+UseConcMarkSweepGC runs Concurrent Mark and Sweep collector.

5. strictfp

Marking aclass as strictfp means that any method code in the class will conform

to the IEEE 754 standard rules for floating point s

6. All wrapper classes have no default constructor

Wrapper classes constructors are WrapperType(Type) , Wrapper(String).

see next example.

7. Byte wrapper class constructors are Byte(byte), Byte(String)

ex. Byte b = new Byte(); // compilation error undefined constructor Byte()

Byte b = new Byte(3); // compilation error Byte b = new Byte((byte)3); // true

Byte b = 21; // true

Page 2: Java concepts and questions

8. All data types are signed except char or boolean

char is integral but unsigned its range from 0 to (2^7-1) // ^ stands for power

9. Identifiers

Identifier must begin with one of ( $,_,letter ) only

Ex. int %t = 1; compilation error illegal identifier

10. Array Declaration

int marks[] ; // [] doesn't matter before array name or after it.

int []marks;

in methods also

int[] myMethod()

int myMethod()[] //// [] doesn't matter before method name or after it

int myMethod[] () // Compilation error

//////////////

int[] marks; // declaration to the compiler

marks = new int[2]; // construction of array in runtime

== when an array constructed it's all elements are initialized to their defaults

11. Static import introduced in java 1.5

Ex. instead of using Math.PI

you can do = import static Math.PI

and use PI in your code without referring to class Math

Ex. double pi = PI

12. Variable types

1. Member variable these are the non static variables of the class when an object

is constructed(belongs to specific object).

The Compiler initialize them to their default values.

2. Automatic variables(local variables) are the variables of a method when it

executed. Must be explicity initialized before being used.

3. Class variables (static variables) exists even if the class is not instanciated

(no object created from this class).

Compiler initialize them to their default values;

class ABC

{

int x; // member variable initialized with 0;

int z; // class variable initialized with 0;

public void printZ()

{

int z;

System.out.println(z); /// compilation error z must be initialized

}

}

13. Compilation units in java source file

a. package declaration

Page 3: Java concepts and questions

b. import statements

c. class, interface , enum definitions

You compile with the file name but run with the class name

for example if you have file Good.java which contains

class ABC

{

public static void main(String args[])

{}

}

compilation command is ====== javac Good.java to run === java ABC

14. Evaluation order

Ex.

int[] a = {4,4};

int b = 1;

a[b] = b = 0; // evaluation from left to right requires that a[b] evaluated first then b

so a[1] = b; and b = 0; then a[1]=0

15. Difference between & and &&

in & both left operand and right operands are evaluated

in && the right operand is not evaluated if the left operand is false because the

whole operation is false

boolean a = true;

boolean b = false;

if ( b && (a = false) )

{

System.out.println("test");

}

System.out.println("a = " + a + " , b = " + b); // prints a = true , b = false

boolean a = true;

boolean b = false;

if ( b & (a = false) )

{

System.out.println("test");

}

System.out.println("a = " + a + " , b = " + b); // prints a = false , b = false

16. Difference between | and ||

| will evaluate two operands

|| if the first operand is evaluated to true the second operand will not evaluated

Example

public static void test(String s)

{

if ( str == null | str.length() == 0)

Page 4: Java concepts and questions

{

System.out.println("String is empty");

}

}

when called with test(null) the first operand is evaluated to ture and the second

operand will be evaluated so it will through NullPointerException

//

public static void test(String s)

{

if ( str == null // str.length() == 0)

{

System.out.println("String is empty");

}

}

when called with test(null) the first operand is evaluated to true and prints String is

empty

17. switch(x)

x must be one of (1. byte 2. short 3. char 4. int)

Each of the values specified in the case statements must be of a type compatible

with or assignable to the switch expression. Each case value must be a compile

time constant/expression, not a variable.

Ex.

int x = 10;

final int a = 5;

int b = 10;

final int c; //c is final variable but not constant.

c = 10;

switch (x) {

case a: // a must be final (compile time constant)

case b: // compilation error (b must be constant)

case c: // compilation error c is not a constant

default:

}

18. Conversion & Casting

All conversion rules are enforced at compile time.

Conversion occurs in the three situations

1. Assignment.

2. Method call.

3. Arithmetic promotions.

19. You cannot cast Boolean to any type or vice versa

Page 5: Java concepts and questions

20. Arithmetic promotion rules

1. For unary operators (++ , -- , …….)

- if operand is byte,short,char it is converted to an int.

- if it is any other type it is not converted.

2. For binary operands

- if one of the operands is double, float, long, the second is converted to the same

type ELSE Both operands converted to int.

21. + operator with strings and numbers

The + operator is syntactically left-associative, the expression a + b + c is always

regarded as (a + b) + c.

Ex.

System.out.println(1 + 2 + " fiddlers"); // prints 3 fiddlers

// it is computed as ((1+2)+"fiddlers") 3 + "fiddlers" = 3 fiddlers

System.out.println("fiddlers " + 1 + 2); // prints fiddlers 12

// ( ("fiddlers " + 1 ) + 2) ("fiddlers 1" + 2) = "fiddlers 12"

22. Implicit narrowing conversion

The implicit narrowing conversion work with the method return statement

constants.

Ex.

class ABC

{

byte method_1()

{

return 126; // ok no problems, although 126 is an integer not byte

}

}

Ex.2

class ABC

{

byte method_1()

{

final int m = 127;

return m; // ok no problems, although m is an integer not byte

}

}

Ex.3

class ABC

{

byte method_1()

{

final int m = 128;

return m; // compilation error 128 is greater than a byte.

}

}

Ex.4

class ABC

{

Page 6: Java concepts and questions

byte method_1()

{

int m = 126;

return m; // compilation error m is not final.

// return type must be of type byte or final variable and its value must

be allocated to byte value.

}

}

23. Final variable in enhanced for loop

Ex.

String[] strArr = {"A", "B", "C", "D"};

for (final String s : strArr)

{ // compiles because it is local variable to the for loop

System.out.println(s);

}

this code compiles and run without errors because it is equal to the following code.

String[] strArr = {"A", "B", "C", "D"};

for (int index = 0; index < strArr.length; index++) {

final String s = strArr[index]; // compiles because it is local variable to the for loop

System.out.println(s);

}

24. Enumeration

is a set of constants(special kind of class)

syntax

enum WeekDays

{

Saturday,Sunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday

}; // ; is optional

enum properties

1. Cannot be defined in a method

Ex.

public void print()

{

enum A{} // compilation error enum A cannot be local

}

2. Enum cannot extends anther because multiple inheritance is not allowed in JAVA

Ex.

enum Day{}

enum Week extends Day{} // compilation error

Defining constructors

enum WeekDays

{

Saturday(1),Sunday(2),Monday(3),Tuesday(4),Wednesday(5),Thursday(6),Friday(7);

// ; is mandatory

int order;

Page 7: Java concepts and questions

WeekDays(int order)

{

this.order = order;

}

public int getOrder()

{

return order;

}

}; // ; is optional

Enum types must not be declared abstract; doing so will result in a compile-time

error.

Ex.

abstract enum Dog{D1,D2}; // Compile Error

// Illegal modifier for the member enum Dog; only public, protected, private & static are

// permitted

It is a compile-time error for an enum type E to have an abstract method m as a

member unless E has one or more enum constants, and all of E's enum constants

have class bodies that provide concrete implementations of m. It is a compile-time

error for the class body of an enum constant to declare an abstract method

Ex.

enum Dog

{

abstract void print(); // Compilation error Enum Dog must have constants

// because it defines abstract method

}

Ex. 2

enum Dog

{

D1, D2; // compilation error D1,D2 must implement abstract method print()

abstract void print();

}

The correct code of the previous

enum Dog

{

D1

{

void print(){}

}

,

D2

{

void print(){}

};

abstract void print();

}

Page 8: Java concepts and questions

25. Method overriding

- Done at runtime

- you cannot override methods with their return type only except the following case.

In Java 5.0, it introduces a new facility called covariant return type. You can

override a method with the same signature but returns a subclass of the object

returned.

covariant returns - that is, the specialization of the return type to a subtype (but only for

reference types)

Ex.

class A

{

A getObject()

{

System.out.println("A");

return new A();

}

}

class B extends A

{

B getObject() // Ok because B is subclass of A

// if anything other than A,B it will give compilation error

{

System.out.println("B");

return new B();

}

}

in main method

A a = new B();

a.getObject(); // will print B

- you cannot override methods to be more restricted in visibility.

- if you override method that throws exception, the overriding method must

1. Throws the same exception or children of that exception or doesn't throws

any exceptions.

2. It may throw any runtime exception as RuntimeException,

IndexOutOfBoundsException, …

class ABC

{

protected void method() throws FileNotFoundException

{}

}

class ABChild extends ABC

{

void method() throws NotSerializableException // two errors here

{ // 1. You cannot reduce method scope (method must be protected or public)

Page 9: Java concepts and questions

} // 2. Method must throws FileNotFoundException or one of its' children

} // This method can throw any runtime exception

//////////////

interface X

{

void print();

}

class YZ implements X

{

protected void print() // compilation error you cannot reduce method visibility

{ // because default access modifier for interface methods is public

}

}

--------------

A compile-time error occurs if a static method hides an instance method(non-

static methods)

BUT for variables it is permissible for a static variable to hide an instance variable

Ex.

class A

{

int x = 90;

void print(){}

}

class B extends A

{

static int x = 90; // ok no errors

static void print(){} // compile time error

// This static method cannot hide the instance method from A

// This method can hide print() method in class A if it is static.

}

26. Constructors

-- cannot be static

-- cannot be final

only allowed access modifiers for constructors are public, protected, private,

default

Default constructors created if there is no any constructor in the class with the same

access modifier of the class otherwise it is not created.

Ex.

class ABC

{

public ABC(int x) // because existence of this constructor default const. doesn't

{} created

}

Page 10: Java concepts and questions

if you tried ABC a = new ABC(); in main it will give compilation error because

ABC() is undefined.

this() used to call another constructor in the same class and must appear in

the first line of the constructor

super() used to call the constructor of the super class and must appear in the first

line of the constructor.

Ex.

class A

{

A(int x) // because this constructor default didn't created

{}

}

class B extends A

{

B() // compilation error because there is embedded super() and default constructor for

A is not created

{} // to remove this error put call super(0); in B constructor

}

when creating an object from a class the compiler creates the super and member

classes first then creates the current object

27. Accessing protected member of super class from subclass via super class reference.

A method in subclass has access to the protected instance members/methods of its

superclass, but only if it accesses them via a subclass object

Ex.

package points;

public class Point {

protected int x, y;

}

package threePoint;

import points.Point;

public class Point3d extends Point {

protected int z;

public void delta(Point p) {

p.x += this.x; // compile-time error: cannot access p.x

p.y += this.y; // compile-time error: cannot access p.y

// x,y can be accessed but using reference from subclass Point3d because it is

// outside its package

}

public void delta3d(Point3d q) {

q.x += this.x;

q.y += this.y;

Page 11: Java concepts and questions

q.z += this.z;

}

}

28. Objects and classes

Data Hiding defining the scope visibility of variables to public, protected, private

Encapsulation aggregation of data and behavior.

(data hiding) + How to access these data(setters, getters, ….).

is-a relationship indicates super class (Inheritance).

has-a relationship describes the member variables.(Aggregation).

Overloading is the reuse of function name with different types and numbers of

parameters.(done at compilation time)

Can't be done with return type only

Public level classes cannot be private or protected because it has no meaning

Ex.

public class XYZ

{}

private class ABC /// compilation error private is not allowed here

{}

Inner classes

is a class inside class or method.

- when you create an object from inner class you must have an object from the

outer class.

- It is a compile-time error if a static class contains a usage of a non-static

member of an enclosing class.

- Member interfaces are always implicitly static. It is permitted but not required

for the declaration of a member interface to explicitly list the static modifier

class Outer

{

class Inner

{

void print()

{System.out.println("Inner");}

}

}

// to create object from Inner inside main

Outer out = new Outer();

Inner inner = out.new Inner(); // or Inner in = new Outer().new Inner();

Local Inner classes (inside methods)

class Outer

{

int a;

void print(final int z , int x)

{

final int xn = 9;

int abc = 0;

Page 12: Java concepts and questions

class Inner // allowed to access members of Outer class and final variables

{ //inside the method print and final variables of its parameters

} // only a , z, xn variables are visible to Inner class

}

}

Static Inner classes

class Outer

{

static class Inner

{

}

}

// to create object from Inner Outer.Inner in = new Outer.Inner();

////////////////////// Local inner classes override inner classes (see shadowing)

class Outer

{

class Inner

{

void print()

{ System.out.println("Inner class"); }

}

void printMessage()

{

class Inner

{

void print()

{ System.out.println("Local Inner class"); }

}

Inner in = new Inner();

in.print(); //// will print Local Inner class

} // if local Inner class is not exist it will print "Inner class"

}

inner classes cannot have static declarations unless they are compile-time constant

fields

Ex.

class Outer

{

class Inner

{

static final int x = 3; // OK no compilation errors

static int x; // compilation error inner classes can't have static declarations

static void getX() // compilation error

{

return x;

Page 13: Java concepts and questions

}

}

static class NestedButNotInner

{

static int z=3; // OK no errors, not an inner class

}

interface NeverInner{} // interfaces are never inner because they are static by

// default

}

- Nested classes that are not inner classes may declare static members freely, in

accordance with the usual rules of the Java programming language

- Member interfaces are always implicitly static so they are never considered to be

inner classes.

Annonymous classes can be declared to extends another class or to implement a

single interface BUT not both.

Annonymous classes cannot have constructors because the name of the constructor

is the same as the name of the class and they didn't have names.

Nesting Classes

A compile-time error occurs if a class has the same simple name as any of its

enclosing classes or interfaces

Ex.

class Test

{

class Test{} /// compilation error The nested type Test cannot hide an enclosing type

}

29. Class Instance Initializers

It is compile-time error if an instance initializer of a named class can throw a

checked exception unless that exception or one of its supertypes is explicitly

declared in the throws clause of each constructor of its class and the class has at

least one explicitly declared constructor.

An instance initializer in an anonymous class can throw any exceptions.

Ex.

class Test

{

{

throw new Exception(); // compilation error

}

}

30. Final fields

1. A field can be declared final. Both class and instance variables

(static and non-static fields) may be declared final.

2. It is a compile-time error if a blank final class variable is not definitely

Page 14: Java concepts and questions

assigned by a static initializer of the class in which it is declared.

3. A blank final instance variable must be definitely assigned at the end of every

constructor of the class in which it is declared; otherwise a compile-time error

occurs.

Ex.

class Test

{

final int x;

public Test()

{

x = 10; // x must be assigned value in the constructor or compile time error occur

}

}

Ex.2

class Test

{

static final int x;

public Test()

{

x = 3; // compile time error final field x cannot be assigned

}

static

{

x = 10; // x must be assigned value in the static initializer or compile time error occur

}

}

31. Interface

is a collection of constants and abstract methods.

interface MyInterface

{

// final , static , public only allowed for variables

// variables must have initial value

public static final int x = 0; // public static final is default for variables

// public abstract are default for methods //

}

interface ABC

{

int a; //// compilation error a must be initialized because its default is

// public static final

}

Static by default so that they cannot be defined in Inner classes or inside methods

Ex.

class Outer

{

Page 15: Java concepts and questions

class Inner

{

interface X // Compilation error

{}

}

}

protected and private declarations are not allowed in interfaces, only allowed public

and abstract

interface X

{

protected void print(); // Compilation error protected and private is not allowed.

}

32. Static class loading vs dynamic class loading

Static class loading done using new operator

Ex. Car c = new Car(); // throws NoClassDefFoundException if Car cannot be found

Dynamic class loading done using reflection Class.forName(String classname)

// throws ClassNotFoundException

33. Static blocks (or static initializer)

executed only once before constructors to initialize static fields.

34. Null interfaces (marker interfaces), (Empty interfaces)

They don't have any function declaration on them just an empty interface.

They are treated differently in compiler such as Serializable interface.

Ex. interface ABC { }

35. Abstract class

// is a collection of abstract and non-abstract methods and variables

Abstract class Interface

May contain implemented methods All methods are abstract

Variables can be modified inside objects Variables are final static by default

Cannot extends an interface Cannot implements another interface

Can implements an interface Can extends another interface(one or more)

May have no methods May have no methods (Marker interface)

May have a constructor Cannot have constructors

Static by default so that cannot defined inside Inner classes because static is not allowed in Inner classes.

36. Abstract classes and interfaces are away to defer implementation to sub classes

They CANNOT be final because their methods should be overridden by children

classes.

37. … operator for method parameters only

used to pass variable length of arguments to method

void print(int … x) // you can call it with print(1), print(1,2),print(1,2,…….)

// or print(new int[]{1,2,3,4});

// void print(int x…) gives compilation error since … is not defined

Page 16: Java concepts and questions

/////////////

void print(int… x){}

void print(int x){} // No errors

void print(int[] x){} // compilation error (duplicate method) the same as print(int…x)

38. Checked Exceptions

are exceptions that doesn't descend from RuntimeException which must be handled

by try and catch or throws-declaration.

39. Runtime Exceptions(Unchecked Exceptions).

avoidable exceptions that are your own fault.(they should never happen)

Ex. RuntimeException, ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException,……………..

Class Error and its subclasses also are unchecked.

40. Finally block in exceptions

finally{} block executed in all circumstances.

what prevents finally block from completion

a. death of the current thread.

b. Execution of System.exit().

b. Turning off the computer.

41. Exception’s subclasses have to be caught first before the General Exception

Ex.

FileNoFoundException is inherited from the IOException

try

{

} catch (IOException exp) // compilation error

{

}

catch(FileNoFoundException exp) // Need to be catched

// first before IOException

// Unreachable catch block for FileNotFoundException.

It is already handled by the catch block for IOException

{

}

42. If there is an overriding method in the sub class and this method throws an

exception in the super class then it must throw the same exception which it throws

in the super class or throw an exception which is a sub class of the exception which

it throws in the super class.

Ex.

class ABC

{

public void printABC() throws MyException

{}

}

class XYZ extends ABC

{

Page 17: Java concepts and questions

public void printABC() // it must throws MyException or any child of it or throws

// None or any runtime exception

}

43. Volatile

A field may be declared volatile, in which case the Java memory model ensures

that all threads see a consistent value for the variable.

When any thread accesses volatile fields it performs automatic synchronization

(automatic locking).

A compile-time error occurs if a final variable is also declared volatile.

Ex.

class ABC

{

final volatile int x = 10; // compilation error

}

44. Static

If the keyword this or the keyword super occurs in an initialization expression for

a class variable, then a compile-time error occurs.

Ex.

class ABC

{

int x = 10;

}

class XYZ extends ABC

{

int a = 10;

static int z = super.x; // compilation error (super and this can't be used in static context)

static int y = this.a; // compilation error

}

45. Initializers for Instance Variables (related to classes)

Initialization expressions for instance variables may use the simple name of any

static variable declared in or inherited by the class, even one whose declaration

occurs textually later.

Ex.1

class Test

{

float f = j; // no compilation error

static int j = 10;

}

Ex.2

class Test

{

int i = j; // compilation error -- incorrect forward reference

int j = 10;

}

Page 18: Java concepts and questions

46. Abstract Methods

1. It is a compile-time error for a private method to be declared abstract.

2. It is a compile-time error for a static method to be declared abstract.

3. It is a compile-time error for a final method to be declared abstract.

4. An abstract class can override an abstract method by providing another

abstract method declaration.

47. Native Methods

- A method that is native is implemented in platform-dependent code(in another

programming language).

- A compile-time error occurs if a native method is declared abstract. Ex.

class Test

{

abstract native void print(); // compile error

}

48. Run method of threads doesn't throws any checked exceptions but it may throw any

runtime exception

class ABC implements Runnable

{

public void run() throws Exception // compilation error

}

class ABC implements Runnable

{

public void run() throws RuntimeException // NO ERRORS

public void run() throws ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException // NO ERRORS

}

49. Assertion

provide a convenient mechanism for verifying that a class's method are called

correctly and used commonly to check

1. Preconditions

2. Post conditions

3. Class invariants (a constraint on a class's state that must be met before and after

execution of any non-private method of a class).

ex. assert Exp1;

assert Exp1:Exp2;

// Exp1 must be boolean type

// Exp2 may have any type;

50. Parameters passing in java

In java parameters passing is by value BUT if you pass a reference the jvm makes

a copy of the reference (You can use it inside function but you cannot assign it

another object).

class Value

{

public int i = 15;

Page 19: Java concepts and questions

}

public class Test

{

public static void main(String[] args)

{

Test t = new Test();

t.first();

}

public void first()

{

int i = 5;

Value v = new Value();

v.i = 25;

second(v,i);

System.out.println(v.i); // prints 20 the last value assigned to v.i in

// second() function

}

public void second(Value v, int i)

{

i = 0;

v.i = 20;

Value val = new Value();

v = val; // ok no compilation error but visible inside function only

System.out.println(v.i); // prints 15 because v assigned to a new object

}

}

51. instanceof used to test type of objects not references

public class Test

{

static Test t1;

public static void main(String[] args)

{

Test t2 = new Test();

if ( t1 instanceof Test)

{

System.out.println(" t1 instanceof Test = true");

}

else

{

System.out.println(" t1 instanceof Test = false"); // will be printed

// because t1 is a reference (doesn't refer to any object)

}

Page 20: Java concepts and questions

if ( t2 instanceof Test)

{

System.out.println("t2 instanceof Test = true"); // will be printed because t2

// holds an object

}

}

}

// Example 2

class Cup

{

}

class PassionCup

{}

in main

Cup c = new PassionCup();

PassionCup pc = new PassionCup();

if ( c instance of PassionCup )

{

System.out.println("c instanceof PassionCup is true"); // will be printed because instanceof

// test objects not references

}

if ( pc instanceof Cup )

{

System.out.println("pc instanceof Cup is true"); // will be printed because of

// PassionCup extends Cup

}

52. Auto boxing

Boxing is the automatic assignment of a primitive value to a compatible wrapper

type.

Ex. Integer x = 1;

Unboxing is the automatic extraction of a wrapped value.

Integer z = 1;

int y = z;

Boxing pool

If the value that is being boxed is true, false, a byte, a char in the range

\u0000 to \u007f, or an int or short number between -128 and 127 then the

object is pooled.

Page 21: Java concepts and questions

Ex.

Integer i1 = 2;

Integer i2 = 2;

Integer i3 = 200;

Integer i4 = 200;

System.out.println( i1 == i2 ); // will print true because objects are not pooled

System.out.println( i3 == i4 ); // will print false because objects are not pooled so

references are not equal.

53. Mutable & Immutable

Mutable once the object is created you can edit it.

Immutable once the object is created you can't edit or modify it.

Ex. String contains immutable string

StringBuffer contains mutable strings and is thread safe (all of its methods

are synchronized).

StringBuffer sb = "abc"; // compilation error cannot convert from String to StringBuffer

StringBuilder contains mutable strings but is not thread safe.

(faster than StringBuffer)

StringBuilder sb = "ab" ; // compilation error cannot convert from String to StringBuilder

To apply Immutable concept to your own defined objects.

Ex. if you have class Person with first name and last name and you need to make

sure that all objects of this class are immutable see the following class code

class Person

{

String firstName;

String lastName;

public Person(String firstName, String lastName)

{

this.firstName = firstName;

this.lastName = lastName;

}

String getFirstName()

{

return firstName;

}

String getLastName()

{

return lastName;

}

}

because there is no setters in this class, once an object is created you cannot modify

it

54. Final classes cannot be extended and final methods cannot be overridden

Page 22: Java concepts and questions

55. The class must be abstract if

1. The class has one or more abstract methods.

2. The class inherits abstract methods and doesn't provide an implement to any of

them.

3. Class implements an interface and don't implement every method.

56. Static features (static variables, static methods)

Static features belong to the class not to its instances so it exists before any object

(instance) of the class is created.

Static Methods

1. May access only the static data of its class, it may not access non-static data.

2. May call only the static methods of its class, it may not call non-static methods.

3. Static methods has no this pointer (reference).

4. Static methods may not be overridden by non-static methods

57. Serialization is the process of storing the state of a java object by converting it to

byte stream.

Rules of serialization

1. Static fields are not serialized because they are not belonging to any object.

2. Transient fields are not serialized.

3. Fields from the base class are handled only if those are serializable.

What is preserved when an object is serialized?

1. Only the object's data are preserved.

2. Methods and constructors are not part of the serialized stream.

3. Class information is included.

What is the difference between serializable and externalizable

Serializable -- provides the default serialization mechanism of the compiler(JVM).

Externalizable -- provides customized serialization mechanism which allows you to

implement your own protocols through the methods

writeExternal (…) and readExternal (…)

Version Control

All serialized objects are automatically assigned a unique identifier.

If the identifier of the class doesn't equal the identifier of the serialized object a

java.io.InvalidClassException is thrown.

Ex. class ABC implements Serializable

{

int x = 20;

}

then you create an object ABC myObject = new ABC() ;

and wrote it to a file the compiler assigns default value for hidden variable

serialVersionUID .

And after that another variable is added to the class.

Page 23: Java concepts and questions

class ABC implements Serializable

{

int x = 20;

int y = 300;

}

-- at this point the compiler assigns another value to serialVersionUID

if you tried to read myObject now java.io.InvalidClassException will be thrown

To prevent this exception you should add serialVersionUID to ABC class

Ex.

class ABC implements Serializable

{

private static final long serialVersionUID = 1;

int x = 20;

}

if you create and object ABC myObject = new ABC(); and wrote it to a file.

and you add another data to ABC class

class ABC implements Serializable

{

private static final long serialVersionUID = 1;

int x = 20;

int y = 300;

}

Now if you need to read the stored old object from file the compiler checks

if serialVersionUID of the stored object is equal to serialVersionUID of the new class

the compiler reads the old object and initialize the new features to their default

vales (y will be initialized to 0 NOT 300 )

58. Objects of some system-level classes are not serializable

59. Threads

- Single threaded java program has one entry point (main function) and one exit

point.

- Multi-threaded java program has one entry point (main function) and multiple end

points.

60. A thread can enter the waiting state by the following ways:

1. Invoking its sleep() method,

2. By blocking on I/O

3. By unsuccessfully attempting to acquire an object’s lock

4. By invoking an object’s wait() method.

5. It can also enter the waiting state by invoking its (deprecated) suspend() method.

61. What is the difference between preemptive scheduling and time slicing?

Page 24: Java concepts and questions

Under preemptive scheduling, the highest priority task executes until it enters the waiting or dead states or a higher priority task comes into existence. Under time slicing, a task executes for a predefined slice of time and then re-enters the pool of ready tasks. The scheduler then determines which task should execute next, based on priority and other factors.

62. What invokes a thread’s run() method?

After a thread is started, via its start() method of the Thread class, the JVM invokes

the thread’s run() method when the thread is initially executed.

63. What is daemon thread and which method is used to create the daemon thread?

Daemon threads are threads with low priority and runs in the back ground doing the

garbage collection operation for the java runtime system. The setDaemon() method

is used to create a daemon thread. These threads run without the intervention of

the user. To determine if a thread is a daemon thread, use the accessor method

isDaemon()

When a standalone application is run then as long as any user threads are active the

JVM cannot terminate, otherwise the JVM terminates along with any daemon

threads which might be active. Thus a daemon thread is at the mercy of the runtime

system. Daemon threads exist only to serve user threads.

64. How would you implement a thread pool? public class ThreadPool implements ThreadPoolInt This class is an generic implementation of a thread pool, which takes the following input a) Size of the pool to be constructed b) Name of the class which implements Runnable and constructs a thread pool with active threads that are waiting for activation. Once the threads have finished processing they come back and wait once again in the pool. This thread pool engine can be locked i.e. if some internal operation is performed on the pool then it is preferable that the thread engine be locked. Locking ensures that no new threads are issued by the engine. However, the currently executing threads are allowed to continue till they come back to the passivePool.

65. Is there a separate stack for each thread in Java? Yes. Every thread maintains its own separate stack, called Runtime Stack but they share the same memory. Elements of the stack are the method invocations, called activation records or stack frame. The activation record contains pertinent information about a method like local variables.

66.

67. How you can run Garbage collection?

I can run GC through calling System.gc() or Runtime.getRuntime().gc();

but this didn't guarantee that GC will run it only put its thread in ready state.

GC informs the object when it is about destroying it by calling its finalize() method

68. Reflection

Reflection is commonly used by programs which require the ability to examine or

modify the runtime behavior of applications running in the Java virtual machine.

see Class,Method, Constructor,Member to know the attributes ,methods and

constructors of an object in runtime

69. Collections

Set - didn't contain duplicates and may contain at most one null value.

Page 25: Java concepts and questions

- A Set stores elements in an unordered way and does not contain duplicate elements.

Map is set of objects that map key with value, cannot contain duplicate keys

List - set of elements that maintain its insertion order.

- stores elements in an ordered way but may contain duplicate elements.

70. Generics

An enhancement to the type system that supports operations on objects of various

types while providing compile-time type safety.

It adds compile-time type safety to the Collections Framework and eliminates the

drudgery of casting.

Ex.

ArrayList<String> myList = new ArrayList<String>();

the previous generics restrict the type of objects in this ArrayList to String at compile time

and prevent casting Objects to String.

Sub-typing is not allowed in generics

Ex. ArrayList<Object> myList = new ArrayList<String>(); // compile error

// cannot covert from ArrayList<String> to ArrayList<Object>

Inheritance relationship is maintained between collection elements.

Ex.

class A

{}

class B extends A

{}

class C extends B

{}

ArrayList<A> myList = new ArrayList<A>();

ArrayList<A> myList = new ArrayList<B>(); // compilation errors

myList.add(new A()); // ok no errors

myList.add(new B()); // ok no errors

myList.add(new C()); // ok no errors

Wildcards ? means collection of unknown type

Ex.

public void printCollection(ArrayList<Object> list)

{}

ArrayList<Object> list1 = new ArrayList<Object>();

ArrayList<String> list2 = new ArrayList<String>();

when calling printCollection function

printCollection(list1); // ok no errors

printCollection(list2); // compilation error

to prevent the last error see the following code

public void printCollection(ArrayList<?> list) // ? maps to any type

{

// the only allowed here is to read elements of list as Objects

// add elements to list is not allowed(list.add(new Object()) gives compilation errors)

Page 26: Java concepts and questions

}

ArrayList<Object> list1 = new ArrayList<Object>();

ArrayList<String> list2 = new ArrayList<String>();

when calling printCollection function

printCollection(list1); // ok no errors

printCollection(list2); // ok no errors

Bounded wildcards <? extends ...>

bounds unknown type to be subtype of another type

Ex.

public void printCollection(ArrayList<? extends Object> list) // maps to any subtype of Object

{

// the only allowed here is to read elements of list as Objects

// add elements to list is not allowed(list.add(new Object()) gives compilation errors)

}

ArrayList<Object> list1 = new ArrayList<Object>();

ArrayList<String> list2 = new ArrayList<String>();

when calling printCollection function

printCollection(list1); // ok no errors

printCollection(list2); // ok no errors

71. Iterator : Enables you to cycle through a collection in the forward direction only, for obtaining or removing elements

ListIterator : It extends Iterator, allow bidirectional traversal of list and the modification of elements.

72. Properties class The properties class is a subclass of Hashtable that can be read from or written to a stream. It also provides the capability to specify a set of default values to be used.

73. Enumeration: It is series of elements. It can be use to enumerate through the

elements of a vector, keys or values of a hashtable. You cannot remove elements

from Enumeration.

74. What method should the key class of Hashmap override? The methods to override are equals() and hashCode().

75. What is the difference between Enumeration and Iterator? The functionality of Enumeration interface is duplicated by the Iterator interface. Iterator has a remove() method while Enumeration doesn’t. Enumeration acts as Read-only interface, because it has the methods only to traverse and fetch the objects, where as using Iterator we can manipulate the objects also like adding and removing the objects. So Enumeration is used whenever we want to make Collection objects as Read-only.

76.

77. Shadowing(Hiding)

A variable is shadowed if there is another variable with the same name that is closer

Page 27: Java concepts and questions

in scope. In other words, referring to the variable by name will use the one closest in

scope , the one in the outer scope is shadowed.

Ex.1

class A

{

String name="A";

String getName()

{

return name;

}

}

class B extends A

{

String name="B"; // shadows the name variable of class A

String getName() // really this is the same as overriding but for variables

and declarations

{

return name;

}

}

A a = new B();

System.out.println(a.getName()); // will print B due to shadowing

Ex.2

class Outer

{

class Inner

{

void print()

{ System.out.println("Inner class"); }

}

void printMessage()

{

class Inner

{

void print()

{ System.out.println("Local Inner class"); }

}

Inner in = new Inner(); // due to shadowing this is the Inner class inside this

method

in.print(); //// will print Local Inner class

}

}

Page 28: Java concepts and questions

78. Double indirection

in most JVMs, the reference value is actually the address of and address. The second

address refers to the real data.

79. Code exercises

difference between null and "" in string

String s = null;

s+= "abc";

System.out.println(s); /// will print nullabc;

String s = "";

s+= "abc";

System.out.println(s); /// will print abc;

Division by zero

Dividing integer by zero

int i=12;

System.out.println( i/0 ); // will give ArithmaticException division by zero

// with integers

Dividing floats and doubles by zero

double d = 12;

System.out.println( d/0 ); // gives Infinity with floating and double variables

Division remainder with floats and doubles

int i=12;

System.out.println( i%0 ); // will give ArithmaticException division by zero

// with integers

Division remainder with floats and doubles

double d = 12;

System.out.println( d%0 ); // gives NaN with floating and double variables

Casting Object to interface

Ex.1

interface MyInterface

{

}

class MyObject

{

}

in main()

MyObject o = new MyObject();

MyInterface myInterface = (MyInterface)o; // no compilation errors but it will throw

// ClassCastException at runtime

The idea is that even if the class does not implement the interface, but one of its

subclass might. If the actually object class does not implement the interface then

Page 29: Java concepts and questions

you will get a ClassCastException error at runtime.

Ex.2

interface MyInterface

{

}

final class MyObject

{

}

in main()

MyObject o = new MyObject();

MyInterface myInterface = (MyInterface)o; // compilation error cannot cast MyObject

// to MyInterface

The compiler knows at compile time exactly what interfaces are implemented by the

final class. If the compiler can determine at compile time that the final class can

never be instanceof the interface, that's a compile time error.

Static with null references

Ex.

public class Test

{

static String name="Farag";

static Test getName()

{

System.out.println("Getting Name");

return null;

}

public static void main(String[] args)

{

System.out.println(getName().name); // it will executes without NullPointerException

}

}

when getName() returns null reference and calling static variable name using this

reference the compiler recognizes that static variable name is not associated with an

object so it will execute it without throwing NullPointerException

casting array of primitives to array of objects.

Ex.

Object c = new long[4]; // OK

Object[] c1 = new Long[4]; // OK

Object[] c = new long[4]; // compilation error cannot convert from long[] to Object[]

80. Thread safe and non thread safe java classes

Thread safe Not Thread safe

Vector ArrayList

Hashtable Hashmap

StringBuffer StringBuilder

Page 30: Java concepts and questions

81. Vector vs. ArrayList

Vector ArrayList

Synchronized Not synchronized

Implement the List interface. Implement the List interface.

implemented using dynamically resizable arrays

implemented using dynamically resizable arrays

providing fast random access and fast traversal

providing fast random access and fast traversal

data is retrieved using the elementAt() method

data is retrieved using the get() method

has a default size of 10 has no default size

82. Difference between Hashtable & HashMap

Hashtable HashMap

Doesn't store null values Ex. ht.put("f",null); will throw NullPointerException at runtime

Store null values Ex. hm.put("f",null); compiles and runs OK without exceptions

Synchronized Not synchronized

doesn’t allow nulls allows null values as key and value

does not guarantee that the order of the map will remain constant over time.

enumerator for the Hashtable isn’t fail-safe

Iterator in the HashMap is fail-safe

can be synchronized by

Map m =

Collections.synchronizeMap(hashMap);

83. Fail-safe is relevant from the context of iterators. If an iterator has been created on

a collection object and some other thread tries to modify the collection object

“structurally”, a concurrent modification exception will be thrown. It is possible for

other threads though to invoke “set” method since it doesn’t modify the collection

“structurally”. However, if prior to calling “set”, the collection has been modified

structurally, “IllegalArgumentException” will be thrown.

84. String pooling & computation

if you create String as String s="my string"; the JVM checks the string literal pool first. If the

string already exists in the pool, a reference to the pooled instance returned. If the string

does not exist in the pool, a new String object instantiates, then it is placed in the pool.

Concatenation of constant Strings computed in compile time.

Concatenating string expressions is computed at runtime.

Ex.

String hello = "Hello";

String lo = "lo";

System.out.println( hello == ( "Hel" + "lo") ); // prints true (pool computed at compile time)

Page 31: Java concepts and questions

System.out.println( hello == ( "Hel" + lo ) ); // prints false (pool computed at runtime)

String computation rules

1. Literal strings within the same class in the same package represent references to the

same String object.

2. Literal strings within different classes in the same package represent references to

the same String object.

3. Literal strings within different classes in different packages likewise represent

references to the same String object.

4. Strings computed by constant expressions are computed at compile time and then

treated as if they were literals.

5. Strings computed by concatenation at run time are newly created and therefore

distinct.

85. JDBC

JDBC architecture decouples an abstraction from its implementation so that the

implementation can vary independent from the abstraction this is an example of adapter

design pattern.

JDBC API provides the abstraction and the JDBC drivers provide the implementation. So new

drivers can be plugged-in to the JDBC API without changing the client code.

Statements.

1. Statement (regular statement)

Statement stmt = myConnection.createStatement();

stmt.executeQuery(""); or stmt.execute(""); or stmt.executeUpdate("");

2. PreparedStatement more efficient due to pre-compilation of sql.

PreparedStatement pstmt =

myConnection.prepareStatement("select * from emp where id=?");

more secure because it prevent sql injection attack

3. CallableStatement used to call stored procedure

CallableStatement callableStmt = myConnection.prepareCall("{call proc_showbooks}");

callableStmt.executeQuery();

Ex.

CallableStatement cs = myConnection.prepareCall("{ call abc(?, ?)}");

cs.setLong(1, customerID);

cs.registerOutParameter(2, java.sql.Types.NVARCHAR);

cs.execute();

String customerName = cs.getString(2);

--- create or replace procedure abc(custId in number, custName out nvarchar2(100))

86. DataSource

DataSource DriverManager a DataSource object has properties that identify and describe the data source it represents

Work with JNDI and managed separately from application (Ex. by Application Server)

Managed by the application code

An application does not need to hardcode driver information

Driver information are hardcoded in application code

Connection pooling and distributed No connection pooling

Page 32: Java concepts and questions

transactions No distributed transactions

87.

88. What is the difference between DOM and SAX parsers

DOM SAX

Object based Event Based

Creates tree of xml in memory Don't so it is faster

Read/write Read only

89. Weak reference is one that does not prevent the referenced object from being

garbage collected.

You might use them to manage a HashMap to look up a cache of objects.

90. public class Test

{

public void print(String match)

{

System.out.println("--== String ==--");

}

public void print(StringBuffer match)

{

System.out.println("--== String Buffer ==--");

}

public static void main(String[] args)

{

Test t = new Test();

t. print (null); // Compilation error The method match(String) is ambiguous

}

}

91. public class Test

{

public void print(Object match)

{

System.out.println("--== Object ==--");

}

public void print(String match)

{

System.out.println("--== String ==--");

}

public static void main(String[] args)

{

Test t = new Test();

t. print (null); // will print --== String ==--

}

}

Page 33: Java concepts and questions

92. A hidden class (static) method can be invoked by using a reference whose type

is the class that actually contains the declaration of the method. In this respect,

hiding of static methods is different from overriding of instance methods.

The example:

class Super { static String greeting() { return "Goodnight"; } String name() { return "Farag"; }

}

class Sub extends Super { static String greeting() { return "Hello"; } String name() { return "Ali"; }

}

public class Test { public static void main(String[] args) { Super s = new Sub(); // Super has the declaration of static method System.out.println(s.greeting() + ", " + s.name()); // prints Goodnight, Ali }

}

93. final volatile int x; // compile time error

// The field x can be either final or volatile, not both

94. public class Doubler {

static int two() { return two(1); } private static int two(int i) { return 2*i; } }

class Test extends Doubler {

public static long two(long j) {return j+j; } public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println(two(3)); System.out.println(Doubler.two(3)); // compile-time error // The method two(int) from the type Doubler is not visible }

}

95. class ColoredPoint { int x, y; byte color; void setColor(byte color) { this.color = color; }

} class Test {

public static void main(String[] args) {

Page 34: Java concepts and questions

ColoredPoint cp = new ColoredPoint(); byte color = 37; cp.setColor(color); cp.setColor(37); // compile-time error

} }

Here, a compile-time error occurs for the second invocation of setColor, because

no applicable method can be found at compile time. The type of the literal 37 is

int, and int cannot be converted to byte by method invocation conversion.

96. Overloading Ambiguity class Point { int x, y; } class ColoredPoint extends Point { int color; } class Test {

static void test(ColoredPoint p, Point q) {

System.out.println("(ColoredPoint, Point)"); } static void test(Point p, ColoredPoint q) {

System.out.println("(Point, ColoredPoint)"); } public static void main(String[] args) {

ColoredPoint cp = new ColoredPoint(); test(cp, cp); // compile-time error

} }

This example produces an error at compile time. The problem is that there are two

declarations of test that are applicable and accessible, and neither is more specific

than the other. Therefore, the method invocation is ambiguous. Solutions is to add third method static void test(ColoredPoint p, ColoredPoint q) { System.out.println("(ColoredPoint, ColoredPoint)"); }

===================================================================

General Questions(allapplabs)

97. What if the main method is declared as private?

The program compiles properly but at runtime it will give "Main method not public."

message.

98. What if the static modifier is removed from the signature of the main method?

Program compiles. But at runtime throws an error "NoSuchMethodError".

99. What if I do not provide the String array as the argument to the method?

Program compiles but throws a runtime error "NoSuchMethodError".

Page 35: Java concepts and questions

100. If I do not provide any arguments on the command line, then the String array

of Main method will be empty or null?

It is empty. But not null.

Ex.

class Test

{

public static void main(String[] args)

{

System.out.println(args.length); // if you run with java Test

// it will print 0

}

}

101. Can I import same package/class twice? Will the JVM load the package twice

at runtime?

One can import the same package or same class multiple times. Neither compiler nor

JVM complains abt it. And the JVM will internally load the class only once no matter

how many times you import the same class.

102. Does importing a package imports the subpackages as well? e.g. Does

importing com.MyTest.* also import com.MyTest.UnitTests.*?

No you will have to import the subpackages explicitly. Importing com.MyTest.* will

import classes in the package MyTest only. It will not import any class in any of it's

subpackage.

103. Can main method be declared final?

Yes, the main method can be declared final, in addition to being public static.

104.

105. S

106. S

107. S

108. A

109. 110.

111.

To be seen later

Thread.setDefaultUncaughtExceptionHandler(new

Thread.UncaughtExceptionHandler()

References

1. The Java Language Specification, Third Edition

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/

Page 36: Java concepts and questions

2. http://www.allapplabs.com/

3. Java community process

http://jcp.org/en/jsr/platform?listBy=2&listByType=platform

4. JAVA Docs

5. http://www.interview-questions-java.com/

6. http://java.boot.by/scjp-tiger/index.html

7. Certification books and sites

8.