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Java Keywords (Part XXIV): native

Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. This is the last chapter of the Java Keyword series. This is probably the keyword I have used the least. In my 20 year career as a software developer, I have used this keyword once, and that was to make some addition to legacy code. The keyword native is a method modifier . Basically, it is a keyword that can only be applied to methods. According to the Java Language Specification (JLS), A method that is native is implemented i
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Java Keywords (Part XXIII): transient

Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. Before getting on how to use transient , you must understand why you need to use it. And for that, you must understand the concept of serialization in Java. Serialization is simply the mechanism provided by the language to turn an instance of an object into a byte stream, so that it can be sent over the wire. Remember, objects encapsulate data. So serialization is basically creating a byte array to transmit the object's data. But
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Java Keywords (Part XXII): volatile

Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. In the last article, we learned about the use of synchronized keyword, and we scratched the surface a little bit about concurrency. The keyword volatile is also relevant in concurrency. To learn more about why this keyword is applicable to concurrency, please read about Atomic Access . You could also read the Threads and Locks section of the Java Specification . As we learned before, the Java programming language allows threads to a
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Java Keywords (Part XXI): synchronized

Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. Before diving into the use of the synchronized keyword, we must understand concurrency. I will do my best to summarize the concept of concurrency first and then provide use cases for using synchronization. What is concurrency? The dictionary definition of the word concurrent is "occurring, arising, or operating at the same time." In computing, this means that a certain operation, or group of operations, must be executed at th
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Implementing Interfaces with Java Records

If you have not read my article on Java records and do not know about this topic, please read my blog titled " Customizing Java Records " first and then come back to this one. Now that you know how to customize Java records, implementing an interface using Java records should be very easy to understand. If you don't know about interfaces in Java, you can read more on my article about interfaces. The recipe for implementing an interface is simply an expansion of what you learned in my previous blog on how to customize a Java record. Following our Rectangle example, let's create an interface with the same two methods we used before. public interface Shape { double area(); double perimeter(); } Now, let's further customize the previous example by doing two things: Add implements Shape at the end of the record declaration (after the record constructor), and Add @Override to the existing methods to ensure these methods com
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Customizing Java Records

If you have not read my article on Java records and do not know about this topic, please read my blog titled " Java Keywords Addendum: The Java Record " first and then come back to this one. What is a customization of a record? A customization of a record is simply the addition of code inside the body of the class. Before proceeding further, let's recap important aspects of a Java Record: Java records are immutable Because of item 1 above, you cannot add new fields unless defined in the record constructor Java records already override: Object#equals(Object) and Object#hashCode() , and then override Object#toString() You could redefine overridden methods as part of your customization if you would like. For example, if you want a fancier implementation of the Object#toString() method, you could do so. Let's look at our first customization example. Using the example from my previous blog, public record Student(
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Java Keywords Addendum: The Java Record

Since originally my Java series was based on Java 8, it did not include a new keyword introduced later on. For that reason, I decided to post an addition to the Java Keyword series to include the Java record keyword. Introduced in Java 14, the purpose of this keyword is to eliminate all the boilerplate code when creating a Java POJO. For example, public class Student { private String name; private int id; public Student(String name, int id) { this.name = name; this.id = id; } public String getName() { return name; } public int getId() { return id; } public void setName(String name) { this.name = name; } public void setId(int id) { this.id = id; } } can be replaced simply with a record that looks like this: public record Student(String name, int id){ } And not only it replaces the boilerplate code I showed you, it also automatically overrides Object#equals(Object) , Object#hashCode() , and Object#toStr
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Java Keywords (Part XX): The strictfp Keyword

Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. This is going to be an easy one. As of Java 17, this keyword is obsolete. Prior to Java 17, this keyword was used to establish a strict floating-point (strict fp) policy. This meant that, when in use, this keyword guaranteed that floating point calculations would yield the same result across all hardware. When not in use, the Operating System had some leeway in refining precision of floating-point calculations. The keyword would be applied at
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Java Keywords (Part XIX): The assert Keyword

Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. The assert keyword enables you to test an assumption about a part of your program. If the assertion is proven to be true, execution of your program will continue. If it's proven to be false, an AssertionError will be thrown. Assertions confirm your assumptions about the behavior of your program, thus increasing confidence that the program is free of errors. This keyword has been part of the Java language since Java 1.4.2 and yet, very l
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Java Keywords (Part XVIII): The static keyword

This article summarize the use of the keyword static . I suggest you review Java Keywords (Part V): Classes vs Interfaces and Java Keywords (Part IX): Switch Statements before proceeding. Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. Very early in this series, I discussed the use of the keyword static and mentioned that I would leave for later discussion another use of that keyword. Well, the time has come. Using static method in interfaces Let me start by saying that the only re
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Java Keywords (Part XVII): The default keyword

This article summarize the use of the keyword default . I suggest you review Java Keywords (Part V): Classes vs Interfaces and Java Keywords (Part IX): Switch Statements before proceeding. Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. Up until Java 8 (released in March, 2014), the default keyword had a single purpose, which was to indicate the default case in a switch statement. To illustrate quickly String color = "red"; switch(color) { case "red": case
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Java Keywords (Part XVI): The many uses of the super keyword

We are up to 40 keywords covered in previous articles! That's 83% keywords covered. We have only 8 keywords to cover and I will be covering 1 of those in this article. We are almost done with all the basic keywords. This article will illustrate the use of the keyword super . I suggest you start with Java Keywords (Part I) before proceeding further, if you have not read any of the previous articles in the Java Keyword series. Also, go back and read the one about Data Types. All of these articles are from September 2018. That should help you find them quickly. You can also use the "search" option at the top of this page. The series was written with natural progression in mind. Therefore, some of the keywords already covered may be used in code examples illustrated here. Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw
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