Object and Class in Java
In this page, we will learn about java objects and classes. In object-oriented programming technique, we design a program using objects and classes.
Object is the physical as well as logical entity whereas class is the logical entity only.
Object in Java
An entity that has state and behavior is known as an object e.g. chair, bike, marker, pen, table, car etc. It can be physical or logical (tangible and intangible). The example of intangible object is banking system.
An object has three characteristics:
- state: represents data (value) of an object.
- behavior: represents the behavior (functionality) of an object such as deposit, withdraw etc.
- identity: Object identity is typically implemented via a unique ID. The value of the ID is not visible to the external user. But, it is used internally by the JVM to identify each object uniquely.
For Example: Pen is an object. Its name is Reynolds, color is white etc. known as its state. It is used to write, so writing is its behavior.
Object is an instance of a class. Class is a template or blueprint from which objects are created. So object is the instance(result) of a class.
Object Definitions:
- Object is a real world entity.
- Object is a run time entity.
- Object is an entity which has state and behavior.
- Object is an instance of a class.
Class in Java
A class is a group of objects which have common properties. It is a template or blueprint from which objects are created. It is a logical entity. It can't be physical.
A class in Java can contain:
- fields
- methods
- constructors
- blocks
- nested class and interface
Syntax to declare a class:
Instance variable in Java
A variable which is created inside the class but outside the method, is known as instance variable. Instance variable doesn't get memory at compile time. It gets memory at run time when object(instance) is created. That is why, it is known as instance variable.
Method in Java
In java, a method is like function i.e. used to expose behavior of an object.
Advantage of Method
- Code Reusability
- Code Optimization
new keyword in Java
The new keyword is used to allocate memory at run time. All objects get memory in Heap memory area.
Object and Class Example: main within class
In this example, we have created a Student class that have two data members id and name. We are creating the object of the Student class by new keyword and printing the objects value.
Here, we are creating main() method inside the class.
File: Student.java
Output:
0 null
Object and Class Example: main outside class
In real time development, we create classes and use it from another class. It is a better approach than previous one. Let's see a simple example, where we are having main() method in another class.
We can have multiple classes in different java files or single java file. If you define multiple classes in a single java source file, it is a good idea to save the file name with the class name which has main() method.
File: TestStudent1.java
Output:
0 null
3 Ways to initialize object
There are 3 ways to initialize object in java.
- By reference variable
- By method
- By constructor
1) Object and Class Example: Initialization through reference
Initializing object simply means storing data into object. Let's see a simple example where we are going to initialize object through reference variable.
File: TestStudent2.java
Output:
101 Sonoo
We can also create multiple objects and store information in it through reference variable.
File: TestStudent3.java
Output:
101 Sonoo 102 Amit
2) Object and Class Example: Initialization through method
In this example, we are creating the two objects of Student class and initializing the value to these objects by invoking the insertRecord method. Here, we are displaying the state (data) of the objects by invoking the displayInformation() method.
File: TestStudent4.java
Output:
111 Karan 222 Aryan
As you can see in the above figure, object gets the memory in heap memory area. The reference variable refers to the object allocated in the heap memory area. Here, s1 and s2 both are reference variables that refer to the objects allocated in memory.
3) Object and Class Example: Initialization through constructor
We will learn about constructors in java later.
Object and Class Example: Employee
Let's see an example where we are maintaining records of employees.
File: TestEmployee.java
Output:
101 ajeet 45000.0 102 irfan 25000.0 103 nakul 55000.0
Object and Class Example: Rectangle
There is given another example that maintains the records of Rectangle class.
File: TestRectangle1.java
Output:
55 45
What are the different ways to create an object in Java?
There are many ways to create an object in java. They are:
- By new keyword
- By newInstance() method
- By clone() method
- By deserialization
- By factory method etc.
We will learn these ways to create object later.
Anonymous object
Anonymous simply means nameless. An object which has no reference is known as anonymous object. It can be used at the time of object creation only.
If you have to use an object only once, anonymous object is a good approach. For example:
Calling method through reference:
Calling method through anonymous object
Let's see the full example of anonymous object in java.
Output:
Factorial is 120
Creating multiple objects by one type only
We can create multiple objects by one type only as we do in case of primitives.
Initialization of primitive variables:
Initialization of refernce variables:
Let's see the example:
Output:
55 45
Real World Example: Account
File: TestAccount.java
Output:
832345 Ankit 1000.0 Balance is: 1000.0 40000.0 deposited Balance is: 41000.0 15000.0 withdrawn Balance is: 26000.0
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