Chapter 6:

A First Look at Classes

Starting Out with Java:
From Control Structures through Objects
Fifth Edition
by Tony Gaddis

Chapter Topics
Chapter 6 discusses the following main topics:

Objects and Classes

Writing a Simple Class, Step by Step
Instance Fields and Methods
Constructors
Passing Objects as Arguments
Overloading Methods and Constructors
Scope of Instance Fields
Packages and import Statements

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Objects and Classes

An object exists in memory, and performs a
specific task.
Objects have two general capabilities:
Objects can store data. The pieces of data stored in
an object are known as fields.
Objects can perform operations. The operations that
an object can perform are known as methods.

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Objects and Classes

You have already used the following objects:
Scanner objects, for reading input
Random objects, for generating random numbers
PrintWriter objects, for writing data to files

When a program needs the services of a

particular type of object, it creates that object in
memory, and then calls that object's methods as
necessary.
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Objects and Classes

Classes: Where Objects Come From
A class is code that describes a particular type of
object. It specifies the data that an object can hold
(the object's fields), and the actions that an object
can perform (the object's methods).
You can think of a class as a code "blueprint" that
can be used to create a particular type of object.

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Objects and Classes

When a program is running, it can use the class
to create, in memory, as many objects of a
specific type as needed.
Each object that is created from a class is called
an instance of the class.

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Objects and Classes

Example:

This expression creates a

Scanner object in memory.

Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

The object's memory address
is assigned to the
keyboard variable.
keyboard
variable
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Scanner
object

Objects and Classes

Example:

This expression creates a

Random object in memory.

Random rand = new Random();

The object's memory address is
assigned to the rand variable.
rand
variable
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Random
object

Objects and Classes

Example:

This expression creates a

PrintWriter object in memory.

PrintWriter outputFile = new PrintWriter("numbers.txt");

The object's memory address is assigned to

the outputFile variable.
outputFile
variable

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PrintWriter
object

Objects and Classes

The Java API provides many classes
So far, the classes that you have created objects
from are provided by the Java API.
Examples:
Scanner
Random
PrintWriter

See ObjectDemo.java
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Writing a Class, Step by Step

A Rectangle object will have the following
fields:
length. The length field will hold the rectangles
length.
width. The width field will hold the rectangles
width.

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Writing a Class, Step by Step

The Rectangle class will also have the following
methods:
setLength. The setLength method will store a
value in an objects length field.
setWidth. The setWidth method will store a value in
an objects width field.
getLength. The getLength method will return the
value in an objects length field.
getWidth. The getWidth method will return the
value in an objects width field.
getArea. The getArea method will return the area of
the rectangle, which is the result of the objects length
multiplied by its width.
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UML Diagram
Unified Modeling Language (UML) provides a
set of standard diagrams for graphically
depicting object-oriented systems.
Class name goes here
Fields are listed here
Methods are listed here

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UML Diagram for

Rectangle class
Rectangle
length
width
setLength()
setWidth()
getLength()
getWidth()
getArea()

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Writing the Code for the Class Fields

public class Rectangle
{
private double length;
private double width;
}

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Access Specifiers
An access specifier is a Java keyword that indicates
how a field or method can be accessed.
public
When the public access specifier is applied to a class
member, the member can be accessed by code inside the
class or outside.

private
When the private access specifier is applied to a class
member, the member cannot be accessed by code outside the
class. The member can be accessed only by methods that
are members of the same class.
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Header for the setLength Method

Access
specifier

Return
Type

Method
Name

Notice the word

static does not
appear in the method
header designed to work
on an instance of a class
(instance method).

public void setLength (double len)

Parameter variable declaration

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Writing and Demonstrating the

setLength Method
/**
The setLength method stores a value in the
length field.
@param len The value to store in length.
*/
public void setLength(double len)
{
length = len;
}

Examples: Rectangle.java, LengthDemo.java

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Creating a Rectangle object

Rectangle box = new Rectangle ();
The box
variable holds
the address of
the Rectangle
object.

A Rectangle object
address

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length:

0.0

width:

0.0

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Calling the setLength Method

box.setLength(10.0);
The box
variable holds
the address of
the
Rectangle
object.

A Rectangle object
address

length: 10.0
width: 0.0

This is the state of the box object after

the setLength method executes.
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Writing the getLength Method

/**
The getLength method returns a Rectangle
object's length.
@return The value in the length field.
*/
public double getLength()
{
return length;
}

Similarly, the setWidth and getWidth methods

can be created.
Examples: Rectangle.java, LengthWidthDemo.java
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Writing and Demonstrating the getArea

Method
/**
The getArea method returns a Rectangle
object's area.
@return The product of length times width.
*/
public double getArea()
{
return length * width;
}

Examples: Rectangle.java, RectangleDemo.java

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Accessor and Mutator Methods

Because of the concept of data hiding, fields in a class
are private.
The methods that retrieve the data of fields are called
accessors.
The methods that modify the data of fields are called
mutators.
Each field that the programmer wishes to be viewed by
other classes needs an accessor.
Each field that the programmer wishes to be modified
by other classes needs a mutator.
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Accessors and Mutators

For the Rectangle example, the accessors and
mutators are:
setLength : Sets the value of the length field.
public void setLength(double len)

setWidth

: Sets the value of the width field.

public void setLength(double w)

getLength : Returns the value of the length field.

public double getLength()

getWidth

: Returns the value of the width field.

public double getWidth()

Other names for these methods are getters and setters.

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Data Hiding
An object hides its internal, private fields from
code that is outside the class that the object is
an instance of.
Only the class's methods may directly access
and make changes to the objects internal data.
Code outside the class must use the class's
public methods to operate on an object's private
fields.
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Data Hiding
Data hiding is important because classes are
typically used as components in large software
systems, involving a team of programmers.
Data hiding helps enforce the integrity of an
object's internal data.

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Stale Data
Some data is the result of a calculation.
Consider the area of a rectangle.
length width

It would be impractical to use an area variable here.

Data that requires the calculation of various factors has
the potential to become stale.
To avoid stale data, it is best to calculate the value of
that data within a method rather than store it in a
variable.
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Stale Data
Rather than use an area variable in a Rectangle
class:
public double getArea()
{
return length * width;
}

This dynamically calculates the value of the

rectangles area when the method is called.
Now, any change to the length or width variables
will not leave the area of the rectangle stale.
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UML Data Type and Parameter Notation

UML diagrams are language independent.
UML diagrams use an independent notation to show
return types, access modifiers, etc.
Access modifiers
are denoted as:
+ public
- private

Rectangle
- width : double
+ setWidth(w : double) : void

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UML Data Type and Parameter Notation

UML diagrams are language independent.
UML diagrams use an independent notation to show
return types, access modifiers, etc.
Rectangle

Variable types are

placed after the variable
name, separated by a
colon.

- width : double
+ setWidth(w : double) : void

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UML Data Type and Parameter Notation

UML diagrams are language independent.
UML diagrams use an independent notation to show
return types, access modifiers, etc.
Rectangle

Method return types are

placed after the method
declaration name,
separated by a colon.

- width : double
+ setWidth(w : double) : void

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UML Data Type and Parameter Notation

UML diagrams are language independent.
UML diagrams use an independent notation to show
return types, access modifiers, etc.
Method parameters
are shown inside the
parentheses using the
same notation as
variables.

Rectangle
- width : double
+ setWidth(w : double) : void

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Converting the UML Diagram to Code

Putting all of this information together, a Java class file
can be built easily using the UML diagram.
The UML diagram parts match the Java class file
structure.
class header
{
Fields
Methods
}

ClassName
Fields
Methods

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Converting the UML Diagram to Code

The structure of the class can be
compiled and tested without having
bodies for the methods. Just be sure to
put in dummy return values for methods
that have a return type other than void.

public class Rectangle

{
private double width;
private double length;
public void setWidth(double w)
{
}
public void setLength(double len)
{
}
public double getWidth()
{
return 0.0;
}
public double getLength()
{
return 0.0;
}
public double getArea()
{
return 0.0;
}

Rectangle
- width : double
- length : double
+ setWidth(w : double) : void
+ setLength(len : double): void
+ getWidth() : double
+ getLength() : double
+ getArea() : double
}

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Converting the UML Diagram to Code

Once the class structure has been tested,
the method bodies can be written and
tested.

public class Rectangle

{
private double width;
private double length;
public void setWidth(double w)
{
width = w;
}
public void setLength(double len)
{
length = len;
}
public double getWidth()
{
return width;
}
public double getLength()
{
return length;
}
public double getArea()
{
return length * width;
}

Rectangle
- width : double
- length : double
+ setWidth(w : double) : void
+ setLength(len : double): void
+ getWidth() : double
+ getLength() : double
+ getArea() : double
}

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Class Layout Conventions

The layout of a source code file can vary by
employer or instructor.
A common layout is:
Fields listed first
Methods listed second
Accessors and mutators are typically grouped.

There are tools that can help in formatting

layout to specific standards.
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Instance Fields and Methods

Fields and methods that are declared as
previously shown are called instance fields and
instance methods.
Objects created from a class each have their
own copy of instance fields.
Instance methods are methods that are not
declared with a special keyword, static.

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Instance Fields and Methods

Instance fields and instance methods require an
object to be created in order to be used.
See example: RoomAreas.java
Note that each room represented in this
example can have different dimensions.
Rectangle kitchen = new Rectangle();
Rectangle bedroom = new Rectangle();
Rectangle den = new Rectangle();

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States of Three Different Rectangle

Objects
The kitchen variable
holds the address of a
Rectangle Object.
The bedroom variable
holds the address of a
Rectangle Object.
The den variable
holds the address of a
Rectangle Object.

address

length: 10.0
width: 14.0

address

length: 15.0
width: 12.0

address

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length: 20.0
width: 30.0

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Constructors
Classes can have special methods called constructors.
A constructor is a method that is automatically called
when an object is created.
Constructors are used to perform operations at the time
an object is created.
Constructors typically initialize instance fields and
perform other object initialization tasks.

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Constructors
Constructors have a few special properties that
set them apart from normal methods.

Constructors have the same name as the class.

Constructors have no return type (not even void).
Constructors may not return any values.
Constructors are typically public.

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Constructor for Rectangle Class

/**
Constructor
@param len The length of the rectangle.
@param w The width of the rectangle.
*/
public Rectangle(double len, double w)
{
length = len;
width = w;
}

Examples: Rectangle.java, ConstructorDemo.java

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Constructors in UML
In UML, the most common way constructors
are defined is:
Rectangle
- width : double
- length : double

Notice there is no
return type listed
for constructors.

+Rectangle(len:double, w:double)
+ setWidth(w : double) : void
+ setLength(len : double): void
+ getWidth() : double
+ getLength() : double
+ getArea() : double

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Uninitialized Local Reference Variables

Reference variables can be declared without being initialized.
Rectangle box;
This statement does not create a Rectangle object, so it is an
uninitialized local reference variable.
A local reference variable must reference an object before it can
be used, otherwise a compiler error will occur.
box = new Rectangle(7.0, 14.0);

box will now reference a Rectangle object of length 7.0 and

width 14.0.

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The Default Constructor

When an object is created, its constructor is always
called.
If you do not write a constructor, Java provides one
when the class is compiled. The constructor that Java
provides is known as the default constructor.
It sets all of the objects numeric fields to 0.
It sets all of the objects boolean fields to false.
It sets all of the objects reference variables to the special
value null.

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The Default Constructor

The default constructor is a constructor with no
parameters, used to initialize an object in a default
configuration.
The only time that Java provides a default constructor
is when you do not write any constructor for a class.
See example: First version of Rectangle.java

A default constructor is not provided by Java if a

constructor is already written.
See example: Rectangle.java with Constructor

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Writing Your Own No-Arg Constructor

A constructor that does not accept arguments is known
as a no-arg constructor.
The default constructor (provided by Java) is a no-arg
constructor.
We can write our own no-arg constructor
public Rectangle()
{
length = 1.0;
width = 1.0;
}
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The String Class Constructor

One of the String class constructors accepts
a string literal as an argument.
This string literal is used to initialize a String
object.
For instance:
String name = new String("Michael Long");

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The String Class Constructor

This creates a new reference variable name that points
to a String object that represents the name Michael
Long
Because they are used so often, String objects can
be created with a shorthand:
String name = "Michael Long";

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Passing Objects as Arguments

When you pass a object as an argument, the
thing that is passed into the parameter variable
is the object's memory address.
As a result, parameter variable references the
object, and the receiving method has access to
the object.
See DieArgument.java

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Overloading Methods and Constructors

Two or more methods in a class may have the
same name as long as their parameter lists are
different.
When this occurs, it is called method
overloading. This also applies to constructors.
Method overloading is important because
sometimes you need several different ways to
perform the same operation.
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Overloaded Method add

public int add(int num1, int num2)
{
int sum = num1 + num2;
return sum;
}
public String add (String str1, String str2)
{
String combined = str1 + str2;
return combined;
}
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Method Signature and Binding

A method signature consists of the methods name and the data
types of the methods parameters, in the order that they appear.
The return type is not part of the signature.
add(int, int)
add(String, String)

Signatures of the
add methods of
previous slide

The process of matching a method call with the correct method

is known as binding. The compiler uses the method signature to
determine which version of the overloaded method to bind the
call to.

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Rectangle Class Constructor Overload

If we were to add the no-arg constructor we wrote previously to
our Rectangle class in addition to the original constructor we
wrote, what would happen when we execute the following calls?
Rectangle box1 = new Rectangle();
Rectangle box2 = new Rectangle(5.0, 10.0);

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Rectangle Class Constructor Overload

If we were to add the no-arg constructor we wrote
previously to our Rectangle class in addition to the
original constructor we wrote, what would happen
when we execute the following calls?
Rectangle box1 = new Rectangle();
Rectangle box2 = new Rectangle(5.0, 10.0);

The first call would use the no-arg constructor and box1 would
have a length of 1.0 and width of 1.0.
The second call would use the original constructor and box2
would have a length of 5.0 and a width of 10.0.
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The BankAccount Example

BankAccount.java
AccountTest.java

BankAccount
-balance:double
+BankAccount()

Overloaded Constructors

+BankAccount(startBalance:double)
+BankAccount(strString):

Overloaded deposit methods

Overloaded withdraw methods
Overloaded setBalance methods

+deposit(amount:double):void
+deposit(str:String):void
+withdraw(amount:double):void
+withdraw(str:String):void
+setBalance(b:double):void
+setBalance(str:String):void
+getBalance():double

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Scope of Instance Fields

Variables declared as instance fields in a class
can be accessed by any instance method in the
same class as the field.
If an instance field is declared with the
public access specifier, it can also be
accessed by code outside the class, as long as
an instance of the class exists.

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Shadowing
A parameter variable is, in effect, a local variable.
Within a method, variable names must be unique.
A method may have a local variable with the same name as
an instance field.
This is called shadowing.
The local variable will hide the value of the instance field.
Shadowing is discouraged and local variable names should
not be the same as instance field names.

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Packages and import Statements

Classes in the Java API are organized into packages.
Explicit and Wildcard import statements
Explicit imports name a specific class
import java.util.Scanner;

Wildcard imports name a package, followed by an *

import java.util.*;

The java.lang package is automatically made

available to any Java class.

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6-59

Some Java Standard Packages

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Object Oriented Design

Finding Classes and Their Responsibilities

Finding the classes

Get written description of the problem domain
Identify all nouns, each is a potential class
Refine list to include only classes relevant to the
problem

Identify the responsibilities

Things a class is responsible for knowing
Things a class is responsible for doing
Refine list to include only classes relevant to the
problem

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Object Oriented Design

Finding Classes and Their Responsibilities
Identify the responsibilities
Things a class is responsible for knowing
Things a class is responsible for doing
Refine list to include only classes relevant to the problem

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