Class Structure.ppt

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Class Structure * Classes A class describes a set of objects The objects are called instances of the class A class describes: Fields (instance variables)that hold the data for each object Constructors that tell how to create a new object of this class Methods that describe the actions the object can perform In addition, a class can have data and methods of its own (not part of the objects) For example, it can keep a count of the number of objects it has created Such data and methods are called static We are avoiding static data and methods for the time being * Defining a class Here is the simplest syntax for defining a class: class ClassName { // the fields (variables) of the object // the constructors for the object // the methods of the object} You can put public, protected, or private before the word class Things in a class can be in any order (I recommend the above order) * Defining fields An object’s data is stored in fields (also calledinstance variables) The fields describe the state of the object Fields are defined with ordinary variable declarations: String name;Double health;int age = 0; Instance variables are available throughout the entire class that declares them * Defining constructors A constructor is code to create an object You can do other work in a constructor, but you shouldn’t The syntax for a constructor is: ClassName(parameters) { …code…} The ClassName has to be the same as the class that the constructor occurs in The parameters are a comma-separated list of variable declarations * Example constructor I public class Person { String name; int age; boolean male; Person (String aName, boolean isMale) { name = aName; male = isMale; }} Constructor Parameters * Example constructor II Most constructors just set instance variables: public class Person { String name; boolean male; Person (String name, boolean male) { this.name = name ;