Classes

A class is a blueprint of an object. Classes can be used to define attributes and behavior of our object/s

Attributes

• tells us different characteristics about our object
• is represented by variables within the class

Behavior

• provides possible actions that can performed by the object
• represented by methods in a program

Class

public class class_name{
	// class code
}

public - modifier, modifier that makes the object publicly available

class - key keyword, keyword for defining a certain object

class_name - class name, a string stating the base name of the object(class)

pair of braces - symbols for enclosing components.

Field

Note: field and attributes are the same thing

private String name;

private - modifier, defines the availability of field

String - data type

name - name of the field

Method

Can be interpreted as a function

public void setName(String name){
	// method code
}

1. Method Signature
   1. public - modifier
   2. void - return type
   3. name - identifier for the method
   4. pair of parenthesis - encloses the parameter list
   5. String name - parameter list
      1. to add variables to the parameter list, initialize the variables like normal and separate each variable with a comma ,
2. Method Body - code within the curly braces

Note

Methods can be overloaded, this is done by defining 2 methods with the same name but different parameter list.

Example

public void printMax(int num1, int num2){ /* ... */
}
 
public void printMax(double num1, double num2){ /* ... */
}

The difference in the parameter list can be:

• number of parameters
• type of parameters
• order of parameters