Multiple constructors

Constructors can also take parameters. As long as they don't have the same method signature, an Object can have any number of constructors.

public class Point {
 
  // these 4 constructors have a unique #, type, or ordering of parameters
   public Point(int x, int y) { ... }

   public Point(int x) { ... }
   
   public Point(String s, int x) { ... }
   
   public Point(int x, String s) { ... }

   // this constructor isn't okay, because we already have a constructor that takes 2 ints
   public Point(int y, int x) { ... }
}

Exercise : Legal constructors

public class Point {

   public Point() { ... }

   public Point(int x, int y) { ... }

   public Point(int y, int x) { ... }
}

illegal

public class Point {

   public Point() { ... }

   public Point(int x, String s) { ... }

   public Point(String s, int x) { ... }
}

legal

Fields

Remember that our definition of an Object is that it has both data and behavior. Fields are what allow us to have data! They should reflect the state of the Object!

Fields are variables that are declared outside of any method/constructor, which makes them accessible in any method/constructor. This means that fields are great for remembering information across method calls.

public class Point {
   
   // the (x, y) values represent the state of a Point
   int x;
   int y;
   
   public Point() {
     ...
   }
}

Initial field values

More on constructors!

In the constructor, we can change the initial values of our fields to a literal value, or even to a parameter passed in to the constructor! Either way, for the purposes of this class, it is better style to initialize the values of the fields in the constructor. Field values should not be set where they're declared.

public class Point {
   int x;
   int y;
   // fields should be initialized in the constructor
   int z = 5;
   int z;
   public Point(int x, int y) {
      // "this" keyword lets us set fields x/y to parameters x/y
      this.x = x;
      this.y = y;
      // could also write this.z, but unnecessary, since there is no local variable z
      z = 5;
   }
}

Exercise : Clients using constructors

Suppose you have the following Point class (on the left) and client code (on the right):

public class Point { public Point(int x, int y) { ... } }

public class PointClient { public static void main(String[] args) { // make a new point here } }

Which of the following would be a valid way for client code to construct a Point?

1. Point p = new Point();
2. Point p = new Point(5);
3. Point p = new Point(5, 5);
4. Point p = new Point(8, 4, 5);

Reference semantics

int x = 5;
int y = x;
x = 10;
// here, x = 10, y = 5

int[] a = new int[5];     // a ==> [0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
int[] b = a;              // a ==> [0, 0, 0, 0, 0] <== b
a[0] = 10;                // a ==> [10, 0, 0, 0, 0] <== b 
b[1] = 8;                 // a ==> [10, 8, 0, 0, 0] <== b

Exercise : PointCoordinates

What are the x- and y-coordinates of the Points (Point.java) p1, p2, and p3 after all of the following code executes? Give your answer as an x-y pair such as (0, 0). (Recall that Point use reference semantics).

public class PointClient {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      Point p1 = new Point();
      // changes the value of the x field of p1
      p1.x = 17;
      p1.y = 9;
      Point p2 = new Point();
      p2.x = 4;
      p2.y = -1;
      Point p3 = p2;

      p1.translate(3, 1);
      p2.x = 50;
      p3.translate(-4, 5);
   }
}

[^0-9,]+

(20, 10)

[^0-9,]+

(46, 4)

[^0-9,]+

(46, 4)

Preventing clients from manipulating fields

What we did on the last slide wasn't actually great style--generally, we don't want clients to be able to directly modify the state of Objects.

To prevent clients from directly changing our Object's fields, we need to make our fields private--this is called encapsulation!

public class Point {
   private int x;
   private int y;
   public Point() {
      ...
   }
}

Methods in Object code

With client code, we implement static methods that the main method (or other methods!) call. With Object code, we want to implement instance methods. Instance methods are non-static, and are called on an instance of an Object.

We've actually used instance methods before!

// console is an instance of a Scanner!
Scanner console = new Scanner(System.in);

// .next() is an instance method, as it's called on an instance of a Scanner!
String input = console.next();

Exercise : Client code method call syntax

Suppose you have the following BankAccount class (on the left) and client code (on the right):

public class BankAccount {
   public BankAccount() {...}
   public double computeInterest(int rate) {...}
}

public class BankAccountClient {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      BankAccount acct = new BankAccount();
      // your code goes here
   }
}

1. int result = BankAccount.computeInterest(42);
2. double result = computeInterest(acct, 42);
3. double result = acct.computeInterest(42);
4. new BankAccount(42).computeInterest();

Summary

public class Point {
   
   // class constants are fine!

   // fields
   private int x;
   private int y;
   
   // constructor!
   public Point(int x, int y) {
      this.x = x;
      this.y = y;
   }

   // instance method! Returns the value of x
   public int getX() {
      return x;
   }
}

public class PointClient {
  
   // class constants are fine!

   // no variables besides class constants should
   // be outside of methods

   // main method
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      Point p = new Point(5, 10);

      // calls an instance method on a Point instance
      int xCoord = p.getX();
      printX(xCoord);
   }
   
   // static method, even if a bit trivial
   public static void printX(int xCoordinate) {
      System.out.println(xCoordinate);
   }
}

Point and PointMain

• Download the following file PointMain.java to your machine and open it with jGrasp.
• Now download and edit Point.java and add two methods to the Point class as described on the next two slides. The PointMain program calls these methods; you can use it to test your code. Or you can test your code in Practice-It!

Exercise : quadrant

Add the following method to the Point class:

public int quadrant()

Returns which quadrant of the x/y plane this Point object falls in. Quadrant 1 contains all points whose x and y values are both positive. Quadrant 2 contains all points with negative x but positive y. Quadrant 3 contains all points with negative x and y values. Quadrant 4 contains all points with positive x but negative y. If the point lies directly on the x and/or y axis, return 0.

(Test your code in Practice-It! or by running the PointMain program.)

Exercise : flip

Add the following method to the Point class:

public void flip()

Negates and swaps the x/y coordinates of the Point object. For example, if an object pt initially represents the point (5, -3), after a call of pt.flip(); , the object should represent (3, -5). If the same object initially represents the point (4, 17), after a call to pt.flip();, the object should represent (-17, -4).

Test your code in Practice-It! or by running the PointMain program.

Special methods: toString

There is a contract in Java that when an instance of an Object needs to be put into String form (ex. printing, String concatenation), the Object's .toString() method will be called. If you write an Object class without writing a .toString() method, a default one will be used and gibberish will be printed.

When you write a .toString() method, you are overriding the default .toString() method. What this means isn't important, except for the fact that it is critical to spell/capitalize correctly.

// good! Correct spelling/capitlization, will override the default .toString()
public String toString() {
   ...
}

// will not override the default .toString()!
public String tostring() {
  ...
}

Exercise : Printing objects

Point p1 = new Point();
...
System.out.println(p1);

The above println statement (the entire line) is equivalent to what?

1. System.out.println(p1.string());
2. p1.toString();
3. System.out.println(p1.toString());
4. System.out.println(Point.toString());
5. System.out.println(toString(p1));

Exercise : Point toString

Modify the toString method in the Point class. Make it return a string in the following format. For example, if a Point object stored in a variable pt represents the point (5, -17), return the string:

Point[x=5,y=-17]

If the client code were to call System.out.println(pt); , that text would be shown on the console. Note that this format is slightly different in the Practice-it problem.

(Test your code in Practice-It, or by running your PointClient or PointMain and printing a Point there.)

Exercise : Point class errors

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public class Point {
    int x;                                       // Each Point object has
    int y;                                       // an int x and y inside.

    public void Point(int initX, int initY) {    // Constructor
        initX = x;
        initY = y;
    }

    public static double distanceFromOrigin() {  // Returns this point's
        int x;                                   // distance from (0, 0).
        int y;
        double dist = Math.sqrt(x*x + y*y);
        return dist;
    }

    public void translate(int dx, int dy) {      // Shifts this point's x/y
        int x = x + dx;                          // by the given amounts.
        int y = y + dy;
    }
}

Exercise - solution

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public class Point {
    private int x;                               // Each Point object has
    private int y;                               // an int x and y inside.
    // a constructor does not have a return type
    public void Point(int initX, int initY) {    // Constructor
        // we want to be changing the values of the fields!
        x = initX;
        y = initY;
    }
   
    public static double distanceFromOrigin() {  // Returns this point's
        int x;                                   // distance from (0, 0).
        int y;
        double dist = Math.sqrt(x*x + y*y);
        return dist;
    }

    public void translate(int dx, int dy) {
	// we want to change the values of fields, not create new local variables
        int x = x + dx;
        int y = y + dy;
    }
}

Exercise : jGRASP Debugger

The debugger can help you learn how classes and objects work. In this exercise we will debug the Ch. 8 "Stock" Case Study example. This program tracks purchases of two stock investments. To download the example:

1. Go to this link that contains code files from Chapter 8 of the textbook: http://www.buildingjavaprograms.com/code_files/4ed/ch08/
2. Download and save the files Stock.java and StockMain.java. Right-click each file name and Save the Link in the same folder you use for lab work.
3. Compile and run StockMain.java in jGRASP to see that it works.

continued on the next slide...

Exercise - jGRASP Debugger

• Set a stop on the System.out.print on line 53, and debug the program.
• Type the user input to recreate the following partial log:

  First stock's symbol: AMZN
  How many purchases did you make? 2
  1: How many shares, at what price per share? 50 35.06
  2: How many shares, at what price per share? 25 38.52
  

• At this point, what are the values of the fields in the currentStock object?
  (Ask a TA if you need help.)

  totalShares		75
  totalCost		2716.0

continued on the next slide...

Exercise - jGRASP Debugger

• Now let's debug inside one of the Stock object's methods. Your program should still be stopped. Set a new stop at the return on line 29 of Stock.java.
• Resume your program . It will prompt for today's price per share. Enter 37.29 . If you did it properly, the program should now call getProfit on the Stock and hit your stop point.

  What is today's price per share? 37.29
  

• What are the values of the object (this) 's fields, and the variable marketValue ?

  symbol		"AMZN"
  totalShares		75
  totalCost		2716.0

  ---

  marketValue

  2796.75

continued on the next slide...

Exercise - jGRASP Debugger

• Now let's watch the total shares and cost of a stock change with each purchase. This part can be tricky, so feel free to ask a TA if you want an overview of the different debugger buttons. Remove your existing stop points and set a new stop somewhere in the for loop on lines 42-50 of StockMain, and Resume .
• Type the user input to continue recreating the following partial log:

  Second stock's symbol: INTC
  How many purchases did you make? 3
  1: How many shares, at what price per share? 15 16.55
  2: How many shares, at what price per share? 10 18.09
  3: How many shares, at what price per share? 20 17.05
  What is today's price per share? 17.82
  

• After each call of purchase, what are the field values of currentStock?

  field	after 1st purchase	after 2nd	after 3rd
  totalShares	15	25	45
  totalCost	248.25	429.15	770.15

Exercise : manhattanDistance

Add the following method to the Point class:

public int manhattanDistance(Point other)

Returns the "Manhattan distance" between the current Point object and the given other Point object. The Manhattan distance refers to how far apart two places are if the person can only travel straight horizontally or vertically, as though driving on the streets of Manhattan. In our case, the Manhattan distance is the sum of the absolute values of the differences in their coordinates; in other words, the difference in x plus the difference in y between the points.

Click on the check-mark above to try out your solution in Practice-it! (Write just the new method, not the entire Point class.)

Exercise : Circle

Define a class named Circle. A Circle object stores a center point and a radius.

See the Practice-It link above for a full description of the class and the methods/constructors it should have. You can also test your class in Practice-It.

Exercise : TimeSpan

Define a class named TimeSpan. A TimeSpan object stores a span of time in hours and minutes (for example, the time span between 8:00am and 10:30am is 2 hours, 30 minutes). The minutes should always be reported as being in the range of 0 to 59. That means that you may have to "carry" 60 minutes into a full hour.

If you finish them all...

If you finish all the exercises, try out our Practice-It web tool. It lets you solve Java problems from our Building Java Programs textbook.

You can view an exercise, type a solution, and submit it to see if you have solved it correctly.

Choose some problems from the book and try to solve them!