book

Java in a Nutshell, 8th Edition

by Benjamin J. Evans, Jason R. Clark, David Flanagan

February 2023

Beginner to intermediate

482 pages

12h 58m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Foreword
Preface
Changes in the Eighth EditionContents of This BookRelated BooksConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesO’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAcknowledgments
I. Introducing Java
1. Introduction to the Java Environment
The Language, the JVM, and the EcosystemWhat Is the Java Language?What Is the JVM?What Is the Java Ecosystem?The Lifecycle of a Java ProgramFrequently Asked QuestionsComparing Java to Other LanguagesJava Compared to JavaScriptJava Compared to PythonJava Compared to CJava Compared to C++Answering Some Criticisms of JavaOverly VerboseSlow to ChangePerformance ProblemsInsecureToo CorporateA Brief History of Java and the JVMSummary
2. Java Syntax from the Ground Up
Java Programs from the Top DownLexical StructureThe Unicode Character SetCase Sensitivity and WhitespaceCommentsReserved WordsIdentifiersLiteralsPunctuationPrimitive Data TypesThe boolean TypeThe char TypeInteger TypesFloating-Point TypesPrimitive Type ConversionsExpressions and OperatorsOperator SummaryArithmetic OperatorsString Concatenation OperatorIncrement and Decrement OperatorsComparison OperatorsBoolean OperatorsBitwise and Shift OperatorsAssignment OperatorsThe Conditional OperatorThe instanceof OperatorSpecial OperatorsStatementsExpression StatementsCompound StatementsThe Empty StatementLabeled StatementsLocal Variable Declaration StatementsThe if/else StatementThe switch StatementThe switch ExpressionThe while StatementThe do StatementThe for StatementThe foreach StatementThe break StatementThe continue StatementThe return StatementThe synchronized StatementThe throw StatementThe try/catch/finally StatementThe try-with-resources StatementThe assert StatementMethodsDefining MethodsMethod ModifiersChecked and Unchecked ExceptionsVariable-Length Argument ListsIntroduction to Classes and ObjectsDefining a ClassCreating an ObjectUsing an ObjectObject LiteralsLambda ExpressionsArraysArray TypesCreating and Initializing ArraysUsing ArraysMultidimensional ArraysReference TypesReference Versus Primitive TypesManipulating Objects and Reference CopiesComparing ObjectsBoxing and Unboxing ConversionsPackages and the Java NamespacePackage DeclarationGlobally Unique Package NamesImporting TypesImporting Static MembersJava Source File StructureDefining and Running Java ProgramsSummary
3. Object-Oriented Programming in Java
Overview of Classes and RecordsBasic OO DefinitionsRecordsOther Reference TypesClass Definition SyntaxFields and MethodsField Declaration SyntaxClass FieldsClass MethodsInstance FieldsInstance MethodsHow the this Reference WorksCreating and Initializing ObjectsDefining a ConstructorDefining Multiple ConstructorsInvoking One Constructor from AnotherField Defaults and InitializersRecord ConstructorsSubclasses and InheritanceExtending a ClassSuperclasses, Object, and the Class HierarchySubclass ConstructorsConstructor Chaining and the Default ConstructorHiding Superclass FieldsOverriding Superclass MethodsSealed ClassesData Hiding and EncapsulationAccess ControlData Accessor MethodsAbstract Classes and MethodsReference Type ConversionsModifier SummarySummary
4. The Java Type System
InterfacesDefining an InterfaceExtending InterfacesImplementing an InterfaceRecords and InterfacesSealed InterfacesDefault MethodsMarker InterfacesJava GenericsIntroduction to GenericsGeneric Types and Type ParametersDiamond SyntaxType ErasureBounded Type ParametersIntroducing CovarianceWildcardsGeneric MethodsCompile and Runtime TypingUsing and Designing Generic TypesEnums and AnnotationsEnumsAnnotationsDefining Custom AnnotationsType AnnotationsLambda ExpressionsLambda Expression ConversionMethod ReferencesFunctional ProgrammingLexical Scoping and Local VariablesNested TypesStatic Member TypesNonstatic Member ClassesLocal ClassesAnonymous ClassesDescribing the Java Type SystemNominal TypingNondenotable Types and varSummary
5. Introduction to Object-Oriented Design in Java
Java ValuesImportant Common MethodstoString()equals()hashCode()Comparable::compareTo()clone()ConstantsWorking with FieldsField Inheritance and AccessorsSingletonFactory MethodsBuildersInterfaces Versus Abstract ClassesDo Default Methods Change Java’s Inheritance Model?OOD Using LambdasLambdas Versus Nested ClassesLambdas Versus Method ReferencesOOD Using Sealed TypesOOD Using RecordsInstance Methods or Class Methods?A word about System.out.println()Composition Versus InheritanceExceptions and Exception HandlingSafe Java Programming
6. Java’s Approach to Memory and Concurrency
Basic Concepts of Java Memory ManagementMemory Leaks in JavaIntroducing Mark-and-SweepHow the JVM Optimizes Garbage CollectionEvacuationCompactionThe HotSpot HeapG1ParallelOldSerialShenandoahZGCFinalizationFinalization DetailsJava’s Support for ConcurrencyThread LifecycleVisibility and MutabilityExclusion and Protecting StatevolatileUseful Methods of ThreadDeprecated Methods of ThreadWorking with ThreadsSummary
II. Working with the Java Platform

7. Programming and Documentation Conventions
Naming and Capitalization ConventionsPractical NamingJava Documentation CommentsStructure of a Doc CommentDoc-Comment TagsInline Doc-Comment TagsCross-References in Doc CommentsDoc Comments for PackagesDocletsConventions for Portable ProgramsSummary
8. Working with Java Collections
Introduction to Collections APIThe Collection InterfaceThe Set InterfaceThe List InterfaceThe Map InterfaceThe Queue and BlockingQueue InterfacesAdding Elements to QueuesRemoving Elements from QueuesUtility MethodsArrays and Helper MethodsJava Streams and Lambda ExpressionsFunctional ApproachesThe Streams APISummary
9. Handling Common Data Formats
TextSpecial Syntax for StringsString ImmutabilityString FormattingRegular ExpressionsNumbers and MathHow Java Represents Integer TypesJava and Floating-Point NumbersJava’s Standard Library of Mathematical FunctionsDate and TimeIntroducing the Java 8 Date and Time APIQueriesAdjustersTimezonesLegacy Date and TimeSummary
10. File Handling and I/O
Classic Java I/OFilesI/O StreamsReaders and Writerstry-with-resources RevisitedProblems with Classic I/OModern Java I/OFilesPathNIO Channels and BuffersByteBufferMapped Byte BuffersAsync I/OFuture-Based StyleCallback-Based StyleWatch Services and Directory SearchingNetworkingHTTPTCPIPSummary
11. Classloading, Reflection, and Method Handles
Class Files, Class Objects, and MetadataExamples of Class ObjectsClass Objects and MetadataPhases of ClassloadingLoadingVerificationPreparation and ResolutionInitializationSecure Programming and ClassloadingApplied ClassloadingClassloader HierarchyReflectionWhen to Use ReflectionHow to Use ReflectionDynamic ProxiesMethod HandlesMethodTypeMethod LookupInvoking Method Handles
12. Java Platform Modules
Why Modules?Modularizing the JDKWriting Your Own ModulesBasic Modules SyntaxBuilding a Simple Modular ApplicationThe Module PathAutomatic ModulesOpen ModulesProviding ServicesMulti-Release JARsConverting to a Multi-Release JARMigrating to ModulesCustom Runtime ImagesIssues with ModulesUnsafe and Related ProblemsLack of VersioningSlow Adoption RatesSummary
13. Platform Tools
Command-Line ToolsIntroduction to JShellIntroduction to Java Flight Recorder (JFR)Summary
Appendix. Beyond Java 17
Long-Term JDK ProjectsAmberJava 18PanamaJava 19LoomFuture JavaValhallaCloud-Native Java
Index
About the Authors

Content preview from Java in a Nutshell, 8th Edition

About the Authors

Benjamin J. Evans is a Java Champion and senior principal software engineer at Red Hat. Previously he was lead architect for instrumentation at New Relic, and cofounded jClarity, a performance tools startup acquired by Microsoft. He has also worked as chief architect for listed derivatives at Deutsche Bank and as senior technical instructor for Morgan Stanley. He served for 6 years on the Java Community Process Executive Committee, helping define new Java standards. Ben is the author of six books, including Optimizing Java, the new editions of Java in a Nutshell, and the recently updated The Well-Grounded Java Developer, and he writes regularly for Oracle’s Java Magazine and other industry publications.

Jason Clark is a principal engineer and architect at New Relic where he’s worked on everything from petabyte-scale JVM data processing pipelines to Ruby instrumentation libraries. He was previously an architect at WebMD building .Net-based web services. Jason is a regular conference speaker and coauthor of The Well-Grounded Java Developer.

David Flanagan is a computer programmer who spends most of his time writing about JavaScript and Java. His books with O’Reilly include Java in a Nutshell, Java Examples in a Nutshell, Java Foundation Classes in a Nutshell, JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, and JavaScript Pocket Reference. David has a degree in computer science and engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Java in a Nutshell, 8th Edition

by Benjamin J. Evans, Jason R. Clark, David Flanagan

About the Authors

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.