Identifier :
A name in java program is called identifier. It may be class name, method
name, and variable name.
Example:
Rules to define java identifiers:
Rule 1: The only allowed characters in java identifiers are:
a to z
A to Z
0 to 9
_ (underscore)
$
Rule 2: If we are using any other character we will get compile time error.
Example:
total_number------->valid
Total#------------------>invalid.
Rule 3: identifiers are not allowed to starts with digit.
Example:
ABC123--------->valid
123ABC--------->Invalid
Rule 4: java identifiers are case sensitive , java language itself treated as case
sensitive language.
Example:
class Test{
int number=10;
int Number=20;
int NUMBER=20; we can differentiate with case.
int NuMbEr=30;
Rule 5: There is no length limit for java identifiers but it is not recommended to
take more than 15 length.
Rule 6: We can't use reserved words as identifiers.
Example:
int if=10; --------------invalid
Rule 7: All predefined java class names and interface names we use as
identifiers but not suggested.
Example 1:
class Test
public static void main(String[] args){
int String=10;
[Link](String);
}}
Output:
10
Example 2:
class Test
{
public static void main(String[] args){
int Runnable=10;
[Link](Runnable);
}}
Output:
10
Even though it is legal to use class names and interface names as identifiers
but it is not a good programming practice.
Reserved words:
In java some identifiers are reserved to associate some functionality or meaning
such type of reserved identifiers are called reserved words.
Reserved words for data types: (8)
1) byte
2) short
3) int
4) long
5) float
6) double
7) char
8) boolean.
Reserved words for flow control:(11)
1) if
2) else
3) switch
4) case
5) default
6) for
7) do
8) while
9) break
10) continue
11) return
Keywords for modifiers:(11)
1) public
2) private
3) protected
4) static
5) final
6) abstract
7) synchronized
8) native
9) strictfp(1.2 version)
10) transient
11) volatile
Keywords for exception handling:(6)
1) try
2) catch
3) finally
4) throw
5) throws
6) assert(1.4 version)
Class related keywords:(6)
1) class
2) package
3) import
4) extends
5) implements
6) interface
Object related keywords:(4)
1) new
2) instanceof
3) super
4) this
Void return type keyword:
If a method won't return anything compulsory that method should be declared
with the void return type in java .
Unused keywords:
goto: Create several problems in old languages and hence it is banned in java.
Const: Use final instead of this.
By mistake if we are using these keywords in our program we will get compile
time error.
Reserved literals:
1) true values for boolean data type.
2) false
3) null----------------- default value for object reference.
Conclusions :
1. All reserved words in java contain only lowercase alphabet symbols.
2. New keywords in java are:
3. strictfp-----------1.2v
4. assert-------------1.4v
5. enum--------------1.5v
6. In java we have only new keyword but not delete because destruction of
useless objects is the responsibility of Garbage Collection.
7. instanceof but not instanceOf
8. strictfp but not strictFp
9. const but not Constant
10. syncronized but not syncronize
11. extends but not extend
12. implements but not implement
13. import but not imports
Data Types in Java
Every variable has a type, every expression has a type and all types are strictly define
more over every assignment should be checked by the compiler by the type
compatibility hence java language is considered as strongly typed programming
language.
