CIS 3020 Part 3

Syntactic Elements

class SpecialTurtle extends Turtle {
  public void drawTriangle( double sideLength ) {
    final double DEGREES_IN_CIRCLE = 360.0;
    double turnAngle = DEGREES_IN_CIRCLE / 3;
    this.tailDown();
    this.move(sideLength);
    this.turnLeft(turnAngle);
    this.move(sideLength);
    this.turnLeft(turnAngle);
    this.move(sideLength);
    return;
  } // end drawTriangle
} // end class SpecialTurtle

• Keywords (a.k.a. Reserved Words):
  • Examples: class, public, static, void, new, extends, double, this, return, const
  • Have a predefined meaning
  • Can only be used in specific locations within your program
• class - used to define a class
• public - allows everone to access
• static - belonds to the class as a whole, not to an instance of the class
• void - a "return value" of nothing
• new - instantiate an instance (object) of a class
• extends - define a specialized version of a class
• double - defines a type - real number
• this - refers to the current object
• return - stop processing and return the specifed value, if one is given:
  • return;
  • return( expr );
• final - used to define a constant:
  • final double DEGREES_IN_CIRCL 360.0;

Identifiers

• Programmer selected symbolic names for data, operations, and classes
• Contain letters, numbers, underscore
• Start with letter or underscore
• Class names: Demo, Island, Turtle
  • Start with capital letter (stylistic convention)
  • Each subsequent word also is capitalized
• Method names: main, drawTriangle
  • start with lower case letter
  • Each subsequent word is capitalized
• Data names
  • Constants - DEGREES_IN_CIRCLE
    • values that cannot change
    • All upper-case characters with underscores between words
  • Variables - sideLength, turnAngle, tina
    • Start with lower case
    • Each subsequent word is capitalized

Operators

• Predefined by the language
  • [] - array index operator
  • = - gets (the value of), assignment operator
  • . - dot operator - send the message on the right to the object on the left. Not the same as decimal point in number.
  • + - addition operator
  • - - subtraction operator
  • * - multiplication operator
  • / - division operator
  •  % - modulus operator - remainder from division

Literals

• A.K.A. Manifest constants
• String
  • Examples: "a" "1" "Hi!"
• Primitives
  • boolean
    • Used to represent the values true and false
  • Char
    • Uses 16-bits to represent a unicode glyph
    • Examples: 'a' 'A' '1' '.' Note single quotes
    • Is a number having a symbolic interpretation
• Numeric Values
  • Int
    • 32 bit signed integer
    • Represents numbers ~ +/- 2,147,000,000
  • Double
    • 64-bit signed real number
    • 15 digits of accuracy
    • Represents numbers ~ +/- 2.2*10^308

Delimiters

• Used to separate elements of the program
• White space:
  • space, tab, newline
  • Are sometimes required
  • Use liberally to aid in readability
• Punctuation
  • () - argument lists, parameter lists, subexpressions
  • {} - defines logical block (scope), array list initializers
  •  ; - end of a statement
  • , - separate elements in a list

Comments

• Used to provide documentation on what the code does
• Ignored by the compiler/interpreter
• // everything until end of line is comment
• /* everything between is comment */
• Example:

int a /* not a good comment */ = 23;
int b = 47; // better comment
/*
 * multi-line comment */

Expressions

• Produce a value when executed
• Operators combine values
• Evaluated left to right obeying operator precedence
• Subexpression with operator of higher precedence is evaluated prior to expression with lower precedence
  • Example: a+b*c
  • Best to always clarify precedence with ()'s: a+(b*c)

Structure of Class Definition

class Example {
  // define class data members
  //        (constants and variables)
  // define instance data members
  //        (constants and variables)
  // define class methods
  // define constructors
  // define instance methods
}

Class vs. Instance

• Class data member:
  • Associated with the class
  • A single value shared by entire class
  • Defined as a class value through use of "static" keyword
• Instance data member:
  • Associated with an instance (object) of a class
  • Each object has its own independant value
• Class method:
  • Used independant of any object of the class
• Instance method:
  • Use is associated with an object of the class

Example

class USCitizen {
  // class variables
  private static int numUSPresidents;
  private static String USPresident;

  // Instance variables
  private String name;
  private int age;
  private USCitzen sigOther;

  // Class method
  public static String getPresidentName() {
    return USCitizen.presidentName;
  }

  // Constructors
  public USCitizen(String name, int age) {
    this.name = name;
    this.age = age;
  }
  public USCitizen(String name) {
    this.name = name;
  }

  // Instance methods
  // Accessor
  public String getName() {
    return (this.name);
  }
  public String toString() {
    return "US Citizen named " + this.name;
  }
  
  // Mutators
  public void setName(String name) {
    this.name = name;
  }
  public void haveBirthday() {
    this.age = this.age + 1;
  }
}