Transcript Objects - Kutztown University

Objects
CIS 421
Kutztown University
1
What are Objects

An aggregation



a heterogeneous collection of data
members
a set of behaviors to access and
manipulate the data
Objects often contain objects, since all
but simple types are objects (including
String)
2
What are Objects

Objects are declared in a class



An object is an instantiation of the nonstatic members of a class
Objects model real things
For example an object might be an
account (abstract thing), a vehicle (real
thing), a purchase (transaction), or a
mouse click (event)
3
What are Objects




Real objects and model objects both
have attributes and behavior
A model object is an object modeled in
Java
The attributes are the data values or
references to other objects
The behaviors are the methods
4
What are Objects



The fact that an object contains
behavior and data values is called
encapsulation
To invoke the behavior, a message is
sent to the object reference (invocation)
The message must have the same
spelling as the method name
5
Summary of What Objects Are



Objects encapsulate data values and
behaviors upon those data
They model real objects
They receive messages to invoke their
behaviors
6
The Purpose of a Class




A class in Java is a mechanism used to define
an object, among other possibilities
Sometimes they are called templates for
objects (Java doesn’t have C++ style
templates)
They act as a blue print of an object
When an object is instantiated (created) the
template is used
7
The Purpose of a Class



class is a reserved word
In addition there is a visibility (access)
modifier for each class and members
(data and methods) of the class
private, public, or protected
8
The Purpose of a Class





A visibility modifier tells the system how to
protect the members from the outside world
(other objects)
To obey the OO concept, data members
should be private
The class is usually public (it must be
designated with an access qualifier)
public methods constitute the user interface
methods for internal use should be private (or
protected)
9
Static Declarations


Static declarations belong to the class
Some things MUST be static


main()
the System class’ declarations




System.exit() method
System.out
stream
InputReader is an example of a class containing
only static declarations
static declarations can be accessed via the
class name or via an object of the class’ type
10
Objects vs. Simple Types

All object declarations are just a
reference. The object must be
instantiated



Arrays are objects!
Simple types allocate memory for the
data by their declaration
IntegerObject

Example of ridiculously simplistic object
11
Example: Array of 10 int

Two ways to declare reference


int[] list;
int list[];




no value inside []
represents a reference to an array of int
size undetermined until instantiated
Instantiate:

list=new int[10]
array now has 10 elements
12
Example: Array of 10 int


Wait! Not always like this...
IntegerObject:


IntegerObject Ilist[]=
new IntegerObject[10]



Example of very simple object type
Array has 10 references, not objects.
Must instantiate each separately
Examples: MinMax
13
Built-in Java Objects

Simple types all have object wrapper
type;




Integer wraps int
Double wraps double
Character wraps char
All are immutable

Must be constructed with value that can’t be
changed
14
Built-in Java Objects (con’t)

String is also immutable

Note: String is special; can be constructed via
assignment
String S=“Hello”;
S=“ABCD”
 S is constructed twice



First, with “Hello”
Then, with “ABCD”
What happened to the first object S referred to
(“pointed” at)?
15
Garbage Collection


String object “Hello” was abandoned when S
was reassigned
Memory leak?

No. Java has a built-in garbage collector




All objects carry info on # of references
When #references is 0, memory can be “collected” and
placed back onto the heap
e.g String S=“Hello”
String T=S


“Hello” has two references to it
No destructors, or memory deallocator (e.g. C++
delete operator)
16