Java Handout

Every Java program lives inside a class 类. It starts at a method 方法 named main. System.out.println(...) prints a line; System.out.print(...) prints with no new line.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, world!");
        System.out.println("I am learning Java.");
    }
}

• Java is compiled 编译: the compiler 编译器 checks the whole program, then it runs.
• Every statement 语句 ends with a semicolon ;.

A variable 变量 must declare 声明 its type. Common primitive types 基本类型: int (whole number), double (decimal), boolean (true/false), char (one letter).

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int age = 17;
        double price = 9.99;
        boolean passed = true;
        System.out.println(age + " " + price + " " + passed);
    }
}

A comment 注释 is // (one line) or /* ... */ (a block). Indent the code inside braces { }. Class names start Capitalised; variables and methods use camelCase 驼峰命名 (lowercase first).

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // greet the user
        String firstName = "Mei";
        System.out.println("Hi, " + firstName);
    }
}

Java arithmetic 算术 uses + - * / and % (remainder). With two ints, / is integer division 整数除法 — it drops the decimal. +=, -=, and ++ are shortcuts.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int a = 7, b = 2;
        System.out.println(a / b);    // 3 (integer division)
        System.out.println(a % b);    // 1
        double x = 7.0 / 2;           // 3.5 (one side is double)
        System.out.println(x);
    }
}

Some values are objects 对象 with methods. String has .length(), .substring(), .toUpperCase(). Math has Math.max, Math.sqrt, Math.pow. Wrapper classes 包装类 (Integer, Double) wrap a primitive — e.g. Integer.parseInt("42").

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String s = "Hello";
        System.out.println(s.length());                  // 5
        System.out.println(s.toUpperCase());             // HELLO
        System.out.println(Math.max(3, 9));              // 9
        System.out.println(Integer.parseInt("42") + 1);  // 43
    }
}

A cast 强制转换 changes a value's type. (int) drops the decimal; (double) avoids integer division when you need an exact result.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        double pi = 3.99;
        System.out.println((int) pi);            // 3
        int total = 7, n = 2;
        System.out.println((double) total / n);  // 3.5
    }
}

if runs a block when a condition 条件 is true; else if and else add more cases. The condition goes in ( ), the block in { }.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int score = 72;
        if (score >= 80) {
            System.out.println("A");
        } else if (score >= 60) {
            System.out.println("B");
        } else {
            System.out.println("fail");
        }
    }
}

Compare with ==, !=, <, >, <=, >= — a comparison 比较 gives a boolean. Combine with && (and), || (or), ! (not) — the logical operators 逻辑运算符. For Strings, use .equals(...), not ==.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int age = 16;
        boolean member = true;
        System.out.println(age >= 18 && member);   // false
        String a = "hi";
        System.out.println(a.equals("hi"));        // true
    }
}

switch chooses among many fixed values. Each case ends with break; default is the fallback.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int day = 3;
        switch (day) {
            case 1: System.out.println("Mon"); break;
            case 3: System.out.println("Wed"); break;
            default: System.out.println("other");
        }
    }
}

A while loop repeats while a condition is true. Change something inside, or it loops forever.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int n = 1;
        while (n <= 3) {
            System.out.println(n);
            n++;
        }
    }
}

A for loop packs the start, the condition, and the step into one line. Best when you know the count.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
            System.out.print(i + " ");
        }
        System.out.println();   // 0 1 2 3 4
    }
}

The accumulator 累加器 pattern: start a variable before the loop, then update it each turn.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int total = 0;
        for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
            total += i;
        }
        System.out.println(total);   // 15
    }
}

A loop inside a loop is a nested loop 嵌套循环. The inner loop runs fully on each turn of the outer one.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int r = 0; r < 3; r++) {
            for (int c = 0; c < 3; c++) {
                System.out.print("*");
            }
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

A String 字符串 is text. Useful methods: .length(), .charAt(i), .substring(a, b), .indexOf(x), .toUpperCase(), .equals(...). Strings are immutable 不可变 — each method returns a new String.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String s = "Python";
        System.out.println(s.length());          // 6
        System.out.println(s.charAt(0));         // P
        System.out.println(s.substring(0, 3));   // Pyt
        System.out.println(s.toUpperCase());     // PYTHON
    }
}

Join strings with + (concatenation 拼接). Visit each character with a loop and .charAt(i).

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String word = "banana";
        int count = 0;
        for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++) {
            if (word.charAt(i) == 'a') count++;
        }
        System.out.println(count);   // 3
    }
}

An array 数组 holds a fixed number of values of one type. Index from 0, and get the size with .length.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] scores = {88, 71, 95};
        System.out.println(scores[0]);       // 88
        System.out.println(scores.length);   // 3
        scores[1] = 100;
        System.out.println(scores[1]);       // 100
    }
}

Walk the array with a loop to find a max, a total, a count, or to search 查找. A for-each loop (for (int x : a)) reads each value in turn.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] a = {3, 9, 2, 7};
        int max = a[0], total = 0;
        for (int x : a) {
            if (x > max) max = x;
            total += x;
        }
        System.out.println(max + " " + total);   // 9 21
    }
}

A 2-D array 二维数组 is a grid 网格 of rows and columns: grid[row][col].

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[][] grid = {{1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6}};
        System.out.println(grid[1][2]);   // 6
        for (int[] row : grid) {
            for (int v : row) System.out.print(v + " ");
        }
        System.out.println();             // 1 2 3 4 5 6
    }
}

An ArrayList is a resizable 可变大小 list — it grows and shrinks as you add or remove items. It stores objects, so use a wrapper 包装类 type like Integer (not int). The <Integer> part is a generic 泛型 type. Key methods: .add(x), .get(i), .set(i, x), .size(), .remove(i).

import java.util.ArrayList;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ArrayList<Integer> nums = new ArrayList<Integer>();
        nums.add(10);
        nums.add(20);
        nums.add(30);
        System.out.println(nums.size());   // 3
        System.out.println(nums.get(1));   // 20
        nums.set(0, 99);
        System.out.println(nums);          // [99, 20, 30]
    }
}

.remove(i) shifts 移动 every later element one place left. If you remove while counting i up, you skip the next element. Fix: loop backwards, or don't increment i after a remove.

import java.util.ArrayList;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ArrayList<Integer> nums = new ArrayList<Integer>();
        for (int n : new int[]{4, 7, 4, 9, 4}) nums.add(n);
        // Remove every 4 — loop backwards so removals don't skip items.
        for (int i = nums.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
            if (nums.get(i) == 4) nums.remove(i);
        }
        System.out.println(nums);   // [7, 9]
    }
}

A class 类 is a blueprint for objects. Its fields 字段 store data, its constructor 构造方法 sets up a new object, and its methods 方法 are the actions. this.name means "this object's name". Create an object with new.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Dog d = new Dog("Rex", 3);
        System.out.println(d.describe());   // Rex is 3 years old
        d.haveBirthday();
        System.out.println(d.describe());   // Rex is 4 years old
    }
}

class Dog {
    private String name;
    private int age;

    public Dog(String name, int age) {   // constructor
        this.name = name;
        this.age = age;
    }

    public String describe() {
        return name + " is " + age + " years old";
    }

    public void haveBirthday() {
        age++;
    }
}

Encapsulation 封装 means hiding data behind methods. Mark fields private so outside code can't touch them directly; expose an accessor 访问方法 (getter) to read, and a method to change them safely. The method can guard the data — here a deposit must be positive.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Account a = new Account(100);
        a.deposit(50);
        a.deposit(-999);                       // rejected by the guard
        System.out.println(a.getBalance());    // 150
    }
}

class Account {
    private int balance;                       // hidden from outside

    public Account(int start) {
        balance = start;
    }

    public void deposit(int amount) {
        if (amount > 0) balance += amount;     // guard keeps balance valid
    }

    public int getBalance() {                  // accessor (getter)
        return balance;
    }
}

Inheritance 继承 lets a subclass 子类 reuse a superclass 父类. Write class Cat extends Animal and Cat gets Animal's fields and methods for free. Call the parent constructor with super(...).

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Cat c = new Cat("Milo");
        c.eat();      // Milo is eating  (inherited from Animal)
        c.speak();    // Meow            (Cat's own method)
    }
}

class Animal {
    protected String name;
    public Animal(String name) { this.name = name; }
    public void eat() { System.out.println(name + " is eating"); }
}

class Cat extends Animal {
    public Cat(String name) { super(name); }     // call Animal's constructor
    public void speak() { System.out.println("Meow"); }
}

A subclass can override 重写 a method to replace the parent's version. Polymorphism 多态 means a Shape variable can hold any subtype, and Java picks the right toString at run time. System.out.println(obj) automatically calls obj.toString().

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Shape[] shapes = { new Circle(2), new Square(3) };
        for (Shape s : shapes) {
            System.out.println(s);          // each calls its own toString
        }
    }
}

class Shape {
    public String toString() { return "a shape"; }
}

class Circle extends Shape {
    private int r;
    public Circle(int r) { this.r = r; }
    public String toString() { return "Circle r=" + r; }     // override
}

class Square extends Shape {
    private int side;
    public Square(int side) { this.side = side; }
    public String toString() { return "Square side=" + side; }   // override
}

Recursion 递归 is a method that calls itself. Every recursion needs a base case 基准情形 (when to stop) and a recursive call 递归调用 that moves toward it. Without a base case it never stops and crashes with a stack overflow.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(factorial(5));   // 120
    }

    public static int factorial(int n) {
        if (n <= 1) return 1;            // base case
        return n * factorial(n - 1);     // recursive call: n * (n-1)!
    }
}

Trace it: factorial(5) waits for factorial(4), which waits for factorial(3)… down to factorial(1) returning 1. Then the answers multiply back up: 1 → 2 → 6 → 24 → 120.

Linear search 线性查找 checks every element — works on any array. Binary search 二分查找 is much faster but needs a sorted 已排序 array: it looks at the middle, then throws away half each step. Both return the index, or -1 if not found.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] a = {2, 5, 8, 12, 16, 23};      // sorted, so binary search works
        System.out.println(linear(a, 12));    // 3
        System.out.println(binary(a, 12));    // 3
        System.out.println(binary(a, 9));     // -1 (not found)
    }

    static int linear(int[] a, int target) {
        for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++)
            if (a[i] == target) return i;
        return -1;
    }

    static int binary(int[] a, int target) {
        int lo = 0, hi = a.length - 1;
        while (lo <= hi) {
            int mid = (lo + hi) / 2;
            if (a[mid] == target) return mid;
            else if (a[mid] < target) lo = mid + 1;
            else hi = mid - 1;
        }
        return -1;
    }
}

Selection sort 选择排序 repeatedly finds the smallest remaining value and swaps it to the front. Insertion sort 插入排序 takes each value and slides it back into its place among the already-sorted values.

import java.util.Arrays;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] a = {5, 2, 9, 1, 7};
        for (int i = 0; i < a.length - 1; i++) {
            int min = i;
            for (int j = i + 1; j < a.length; j++)
                if (a[j] < a[min]) min = j;
            int t = a[min]; a[min] = a[i]; a[i] = t;   // swap into place
        }
        System.out.println(Arrays.toString(a));   // [1, 2, 5, 7, 9]
    }
}

import java.util.Arrays;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] a = {5, 2, 9, 1, 7};
        for (int i = 1; i < a.length; i++) {
            int key = a[i], j = i - 1;
            while (j >= 0 && a[j] > key) {    // shift bigger values right
                a[j + 1] = a[j];
                j--;
            }
            a[j + 1] = key;                  // drop key into the gap
        }
        System.out.println(Arrays.toString(a));   // [1, 2, 5, 7, 9]
    }
}

A Scanner reads text one line at a time. For a real file you write new Scanner(new File("scores.txt")); here we wrap a String so the example runs anywhere. Use .split(" ") to split 拆分 a line into parts and Integer.parseInt(...) to parse 解析 a number from text.

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Real file:  Scanner in = new Scanner(new File("scores.txt"));
        String data = "Alice 80\nBob 95\nCara 72";
        Scanner in = new Scanner(data);
        int total = 0, count = 0;
        while (in.hasNextLine()) {
            String line = in.nextLine();
            String[] parts = line.split(" ");      // break the line on the space
            total += Integer.parseInt(parts[1]);
            count++;
        }
        System.out.println("average = " + (total / count));   // average = 82
    }
}

The AP CS A exam has four free-response 自由作答 questions, each a fixed shape:

• Q1 — Methods & control: write methods to a given spec; loops, if, String/Math.
• Q2 — Class design: write a full class (fields, constructor, methods) from a description.
• Q3 — Array / ArrayList: process a 1-D array or ArrayList (search, count, build a new list).
• Q4 — 2-D array: traverse a grid by row and column.

The skill is always the same: read the spec, write the method exactly as described, return the right type.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Q1 style: implement a method to a spec, then it is tested.
        System.out.println(countEven(new int[]{4, 7, 10, 3, 6}));   // 3
    }

    /** Returns how many values in arr are even. */
    public static int countEven(int[] arr) {
        int count = 0;
        for (int x : arr)
            if (x % 2 == 0) count++;
        return count;
    }
}