Chapter 4
Objects and Classes
Object Oriented Programming
OOP
Programs made up of objects
Functionality exposed to users
Implementation hidden from users
Objects can be used from library or custom
created
Using object and their methods can reduce
program complexity
Classes
The template or blueprint from which
objects are made.
Construct an object from class means to
create an instance of that class
Encapsulation aka info hiding.
The data inside an object is known as its
instance fields
Function that operate on the data are called
methods
Class cont
Notion that classes are
cookie cutters and
objects are the cookies
created from classes
The user interacts with
the methods of class
you should never deal
with how the methods
are implemented
Classes cont
Java has the ability to extend a class.
A new class has all of the properties and
methods of the class you extend
You can write new methods and add
properties that apply to your new class.
This is also referred to as inheritance
Where to start??
The top down approach doesnt apply
You dont start with the void main(String args*+)
When thinking about creating your own
classes (use nouns for analyzing the problem
space)
Use verbs to describe methods on the nouns
Using Predefined Classes
Take, for example, the Math class. You have seen that you can
use methods of the Math class, such as Math.random(), without
needing to know how they are implemented
all you need to know is the name and parameters (if any).
That is the point of encapsulation and will certainly be true of
all classes.
But the Math class only encapsulates functionality; it neither
needs nor hides data. Because there is no data, you do not need
to worry about making objects and initializing their instance
fieldsthere arent any
Arrays class is another example of this
Object Variables
To work with objects, you first construct them and specify their
initial state. Then you apply methods to the objects.
You use constructors to construct new instances. A constructor is a
special method whose purpose is to construct and initialize objects.
Constructors always have the same name as the class name. To
construct an object, you combine the constructor with
the new operator.
new Date();
There is an important difference between objects and object
variables.
Date deadline; // deadline doesn't refer to any object
The above defines an object variable, deadline, that can refer to
objects of type Date
Object Variables Cont
The return value of the new operator is also a
reference. A statement such as
Date deadline = new Date();
Has two parts. The expression new Date()
makes an object of type Date, and its value is
a reference to that newly created object. That
reference is then stored in the deadline
variable.
Lets create an Object!!!
Bicycle Class
Nouns?
Bike components
Verbs?
Bike (behaviors)
Bicycle Class
Bike properties
Gear, speed, and
cadence
State
Current gear, speed,
and cadence
Methods
SpeedUp, ChangeGear,
Brake, ChangeCadence
Bike Class Java Code
public class Bicycle {
//members (properties of Bike class)
int cadence = 0;
int speed = 0;
int gear = 1;
Bike Class Java Code cont
void changeCadence(int newValue) {
cadence = newValue;
}
void changeGear(int newValue) {
gear = newValue;
}
void speedUp(int increment) {
speed = speed + increment;
}
void applyBrakes(int decrement) {
speed = speed - decrement;
}
void printStates() {
System.out.println("cadence:"+cadence+" speed:
}
} //end of class
+speed+" gear:"+gear);
Bike Class Java Code cont
class BicycleDemo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Create Bicycle objects
Bicycle bike1 = new Bicycle();
// Invoke methods on those objects
bike1.changeCadence(50);
bike1.speedUp(10);
bike1.changeGear(2);
bike1.printStates();
}//end main()
}//end BicycleDemo
Extending Bicycle
class MountainBike extends Bicycle {
// new fields and methods defining a mountain bike would go here
Relationships Between Classes
Constructors
Constructors Cont
this
Accessor and Mutator and Private
Are types of functions used in your classes
Accessor fucntions (get) Return values of instance
fields (class properties)
Mutator functions (set) Change the value of the
instance fields (class properties
The private keyword makes sure that the only
methods that can access these instance fields
No outside method can read or write to these
fields.
Instance Fields
Final Instance Fields
Static Fields and Methods
Initializing Fields
Method Parameters
Packages
Java allows you to group classes in a collection
called a package.
Packages are convenient for organizing your
work
separating your work from code libraries provided
by others
The main reason for using packages is to
guarantee the uniqueness of class names.
You wouldnt want two copies of Bicycle class
Packages Cont.
Static Imports
Static Imports Cont.
Extending A Class
Dynamic Binding
super
Whenever you want to access a instance field
of your super class inside of your sub class you
have to use the keyword super
See eclipse for example
Final Classes
Final Methods
