Outline Character Strings
Variables and Assignment
Primitive Data Types
Expressions
Data Conversion
Interactive Programs
Graphics
Applets
Drawing Shapes
Variables and assignment
Variable
A name for a location in memory holding data value
Every variable has a type
It depends on the intended use
Example:
use the int type for a variable storing integer values
A variable declaration
=> reserve portion of memory large enough to hold the value
Variable declaration
A variable
must be declared before using it by specifying
The variable’s name
And the type of information that it will hold
data type variable name
int total;
int count, temp, result;
Multiple variables can be created in one declaration
Variables and assignment:
general rules
A variable can be given an initial value
in the declaration
int sum = 0;
int base = 32, max = 149;
When a variable
is referenced in a program, its current value is used
You can change the value of an existing variable
Using the assignment operator (=)
lucky_number=13; (if the variable has been declared)
See [Link]
Assignment
An assignment statement
Changes the value of a variable
The assignment operator is the = sign
total = 55;
The expression on the right is evaluated
And the result is stored in the variable on the left
The value that was in total is overwritten
See [Link]
Sample programs
/* Input: [Link] */
public class Geometry {
public static void main (String[ ] args) {
int sides = 5; // declaration with intialization
[Link](“ A pentagon has ”+ sides + “sides.”);
sides = 10; // assignment statement
[Link](“A decagon has ” + sides + “sides.”);
}
}
// Output:
A pentagon has 5 sides
A decagon has 10 sides
Constants
A constant
is an identifier that is similar to a variable
except that it holds the same value
During its entire existence
By giving the value a name => explain role in program
is named using uppercase letters
To distinguish them from regular variables
In Java, we use the final modifier to declare a variable
final int MIN_HEIGHT = 69;
Constants (cont’d)
The compiler
Produces an error message
if you attempt to change the value of a constant
This prevents coding errors
Because the only valid place to change their value
is the initial assignment
Why to use constants?
Three reasons for using constants
Giving a constant a value a name helps explain its role
Give meaning to otherwise unclear values
For example, MAX_LOAD means more than the literal 250
Compiler protects constant values
Avoid inadvertent errors by other programmers
Prevent changing a constant value throughout a program
They facilitate program maintenance
If a constant is used in multiple places
Its value need only be updated in one place
Outline Character Strings
Variables and Assignment
Primitive Data Types
Expressions
Data Conversion
Interactive Programs
Graphics
Applets
Drawing Shapes
Primitive data types
There are eight primitive data types in Java
Four of them represent integers
byte, short, int, long
Two of them represents floating point numbers
float, double
One of them represents characters
char
And one of them represent Boolean values
boolean
JAVA Primitive data types
All the numeric types differ
By the amount of memory space used
To store a value of that type
Design programs so that space is not wasted
Type Storage Min Value Max Value
byte 8 bits -128 127
short 16 bits -32,768 32,767
int 32 bits -2,147,483,648 2,147,483,647
long 64 bits < -9 x 1018 > 9 x 1018
float 32 bits +/- 3.4 x 1038 with 7 significant digits
double 64 bits +/- 1.7 x 10308 with 15 significant digits
Integers and floating point
types
By default
JAVA assumes all integer literals are of type int
To define a literal of type long
L or l is appended to the end of the value
Example: long counted_Stars = 86827263927L;
JAVA assumes floating point literals are of type double
If we need to treat a floating point as a float
we append f or F to the end of the value
Example: float ratio = 0.2363F;
characters
A char variable stores a single character
Character literals are delimited
by single quotes
Example
'a' 'X' '7' '$' ',' '\n'
Data type char represents a single character
Example: char topGrade = ‘A’;
Characters include
Uppercase, lowercase letters; punctuation ; etc..
Boolean type
Declaration
Example: boolean flag = true;
Boolean variables have only two valid values
true and
false
This type is used to represent situation with 2 states
Example: a light bulb being on (true) or off (false)
Outline Character Strings
Variables and Assignment
Primitive Data Types
Expressions
Data Conversion
Interactive Programs
Graphics
Applets
Drawing Shapes
