It covers most Java syntax elements, concentrating on fundamental and universally useful elements, while providing an overview of many more advanced elements. Students will learn to write useful Java classes, applying Object-Oriented concepts such as inheritance, and create Java programs that work with these classes.

• Conventions in These Notes
• The Java Environment - Overview
• Writing a Java Program
• Obtaining The Java Environment
• Setting up your Java Environment
• Creating a Class That Can Run as a Program
• Useful Stuff Necessary to go Further
• Using the Java Documentation

• Basic Java Syntax
• General Syntax Rules
• Java Statements
• Blocks of Code
• Comments
• Variables
• Primitive Data Types
• Object Data Types
• Literal Values
• Constants and the final keyword
• Mathematics in Java
• Expressions
• Operator Precedence
• Multiple Assignments
• Order of Evaluation
• Expressions that Mix Data Types: Typecasting
• Creating and Using Methods
• Creating Methods
• Variable Scope

• Objects
• Object-Oriented Languages
• Object-Oriented Programs
• Encapsulation
• Creating and Using an Instance of an Object
• References
• Defining a Class
• Java Beans
• Constructors
• Method Overloading
• The this Keyword
• static Elements
• Garbage Collection
• Java Packages
• Dealing with Keyboard Input
• String, StringBuffer, and StringBuilder
• Creating Documentation Comments and Using javadoc

• Boolean-Valued Expressions
• Complex boolean Expressions
• Simple Branching
• Two Mutually Exclusive Branches
• Nestedif... elseStatements - Comparing a Number of MutuallyExclusive
• Comparing a Number of Mutually ExclusiveOptions - The switchStatement
• Comparing Objects
• Conditional Expression
• while and do. . .while Loops

• Defining and Declaring Arrays
• Instantiating Arrays
• Initializing Arrays
• Working With Arrays
• Array Variables
• Copying Arrays
• Arrays of Objects
• Enhanced for Loops - the For-Each Loop
• Multi-Dimensional Arrays
• Typecasting with Arrays of Primitives

• Inheritance
• Payroll with Inheritance
• Derived Class Objects
• Polymorphism
• Dynamic Method Invocation
• Creating a Derived Class
• Inheritance and Access
• Inheritance and Constructors - the super Keyword
• The Instantiation Process at Runtime
• Typecasting with Object References
• Typecasting with Arrays of Objects

• Creating an Interface Definition
• Implementing Interfaces
• Interfaces and Inheritance
• Some Uses for Interfaces
• Interfaces and Event-Handling

• Handling Exceptions
• Exception Objects
• Attempting Risky Code - try and catch
• Guaranteeing Execution of Code - the finally Block
• Throwing an Exception
• Creating and Using Your Own Exception Classes
• Rethrowing Exceptions
• Initializer Blocks
• Assertions