path: root/java.html.markdown

---
language: java
contributors:
    - ["Jake Prather", "https://github.com/JakeHP"]
    - ["Jakukyo Friel", "https://weakish.github.io"]
    - ["Madison Dickson", "https://github.com/mix3d"]
    - ["Simon Morgan", "https://sjm.io/"]
    - ["Zachary Ferguson", "https://github.com/zfergus2"]
    - ["Cameron Schermerhorn", "https://github.com/cschermerhorn"]
    - ["Rachel Stiyer", "https://github.com/rstiyer"]
    - ["Michael Dähnert", "https://github.com/JaXt0r"]
    - ["Rob Rose", "https://github.com/RobRoseKnows"]
    - ["Sean Nam", "https://github.com/seannam"]
filename: LearnJava.java
---

Java is a general-purpose, concurrent, class-based, object-oriented computer
programming language.
[Read more here.](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/)

```java
// Single-line comments start with //

/*
Multi-line comments look like this.
*/

/**
 * JavaDoc comments look like this. Used to describe the Class or various
 * attributes of a Class.
 * Main attributes:
 *
 * @author         Name (and contact information such as email) of author(s).
 * @version     Current version of the program.
 * @since        When this part of the program was first added.
 * @param         For describing the different parameters for a method.
 * @return        For describing what the method returns.
 * @deprecated  For showing the code is outdated or shouldn't be used.
 * @see         Links to another part of documentation.
*/

// Import ArrayList class inside of the java.util package
import java.util.ArrayList;
// Import all classes inside of java.security package
import java.security.*;

// Each .java file contains one outer-level public class, with the same name
// as the file.
public class LearnJava {

    // In order to run a java program, it must have a main method as an entry
    // point.
    public static void main(String[] args) {

    ///////////////////////////////////////
    // Input/Output
    ///////////////////////////////////////

        /*
        * Output
        */

        // Use System.out.println() to print lines.
        System.out.println("Hello World!");
        System.out.println(
            "Integer: " + 10 +
            " Double: " + 3.14 +
            " Boolean: " + true);

        // To print without a newline, use System.out.print().
        System.out.print("Hello ");
        System.out.print("World");

        // Use System.out.printf() for easy formatted printing.
        System.out.printf("pi = %.5f", Math.PI); // => pi = 3.14159

        /*
         * Input
         */

        // use Scanner to read input
        // must import java.util.Scanner;
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);

        // read string input
        String name = scanner.next();

        // read byte input
        byte numByte = scanner.nextByte();

        // read int input
        int numInt = scanner.nextInt();

        // read long input
        float numFloat = scanner.nextFloat();

        // read double input
        double numDouble = scanner.nextDouble();

        // read boolean input
        boolean bool = scanner.nextBoolean();

        ///////////////////////////////////////
        // Variables
        ///////////////////////////////////////

        /*
        *  Variable Declaration
        */
        // Declare a variable using <type> <name>
        int fooInt;
        // Declare multiple variables of the same
        // type <type> <name1>, <name2>, <name3>
        int fooInt1, fooInt2, fooInt3;

        /*
        *  Variable Initialization
        */

        // Initialize a variable using <type> <name> = <val>
        int barInt = 1;
        // Initialize multiple variables of same type with same
        // value <type> <name1>, <name2>, <name3>
        // <name1> = <name2> = <name3> = <val>
        int barInt1, barInt2, barInt3;
        barInt1 = barInt2 = barInt3 = 1;

        /*
        *  Variable types
        */
        // Byte - 8-bit signed two's complement integer
        // (-128 <= byte <= 127)
        byte fooByte = 100;

        // If you would like to interpret a byte as an unsigned integer
        // then this simple operation can help
        int unsignedIntLessThan256 = 0xff & fooByte;
        // this contrasts a cast which can be negative.
        int signedInt = (int) fooByte;

        // Short - 16-bit signed two's complement integer
        // (-32,768 <= short <= 32,767)
        short fooShort = 10000;

        // Integer - 32-bit signed two's complement integer
        // (-2,147,483,648 <= int <= 2,147,483,647)
        int bazInt = 1;

        // Long - 64-bit signed two's complement integer
        // (-9,223,372,036,854,775,808 <= long <= 9,223,372,036,854,775,807)
        long fooLong = 100000L;
        // L is used to denote that this variable value is of type Long;
        // anything without is treated as integer by default.

        // Note: byte, short, int and long are signed. They can have positive and negative values.
        // There are no unsigned variants.
        // char, however, is 16-bit unsigned.

        // Float - Single-precision 32-bit IEEE 754 Floating Point
        // 2^-149 <= float <= (2-2^-23) * 2^127
        float fooFloat = 234.5f;
        // f or F is used to denote that this variable value is of type float;
        // otherwise it is treated as double.

        // Double - Double-precision 64-bit IEEE 754 Floating Point
        // 2^-1074 <= x <= (2-2^-52) * 2^1023
        double fooDouble = 123.4;

        // Boolean - true & false
        boolean fooBoolean = true;
        boolean barBoolean = false;

        // Char - A single 16-bit Unicode character
        char fooChar = 'A';

        // final variables can't be reassigned,
        final int HOURS_I_WORK_PER_WEEK = 9001;
        // but they can be initialized later.
        final double E;
        E = 2.71828;

        // BigInteger - Immutable arbitrary-precision integers
        //
        // BigInteger is a data type that allows programmers to manipulate
        // integers longer than 64-bits. Integers are stored as an array of
        // of bytes and are manipulated using functions built into BigInteger
        //
        // BigInteger can be initialized using an array of bytes or a string.
        BigInteger fooBigInteger = new BigInteger(fooByteArray);

        // BigDecimal - Immutable, arbitrary-precision signed decimal number
        //
        // A BigDecimal takes two parts: an arbitrary precision integer
        // unscaled value and a 32-bit integer scale
        //
        // BigDecimal allows the programmer complete control over decimal
        // rounding. It is recommended to use BigDecimal with currency values
        // and where exact decimal precision is required.
        //
        // BigDecimal can be initialized with an int, long, double or String
        // or by initializing the unscaled value (BigInteger) and scale (int).
        BigDecimal fooBigDecimal = new BigDecimal(fooBigInteger, fooInt);

        // Be wary of the constructor that takes a float or double as
        // the inaccuracy of the float/double will be copied in BigDecimal.
        // Prefer the String constructor when you need an exact value.
        BigDecimal tenCents = new BigDecimal("0.1");

        // Strings
        String fooString = "My String Is Here!";

        // \n is an escaped character that starts a new line
        String barString = "Printing on a new line?\nNo Problem!";
        // \t is an escaped character that adds a tab character
        String bazString = "Do you want to add a tab?\tNo Problem!";
        System.out.println(fooString);
        System.out.println(barString);
        System.out.println(bazString);

        // String Building
        // #1 - with plus operator
        // That's the basic way to do it (optimized under the hood)
        String plusConcatenated = "Strings can " + "be concatenated " + "via + operator.";
        System.out.println(plusConcatenated);
        // Output: Strings can be concatenated via + operator.

        // #2 - with StringBuilder
        // This way doesn't create any intermediate strings. It just stores the string pieces, and ties them together
        // when toString() is called.
        // Hint: This class is not thread safe. A thread-safe alternative (with some impact on performance) is StringBuffer.
        StringBuilder builderConcatenated = new StringBuilder();
        builderConcatenated.append("You ");
        builderConcatenated.append("can use ");
        builderConcatenated.append("the StringBuilder class.");
        System.out.println(builderConcatenated.toString()); // only now is the string built
        // Output: You can use the StringBuilder class.

        // StringBuilder is efficient when the fully constructed String is not required until the end of some processing.
        StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
        String inefficientString = "";
        for (int i = 0 ; i < 10; i++) {
            stringBuilder.append(i).append(" ");
            inefficientString += i + " ";
        }
        System.out.println(inefficientString);
        System.out.println(stringBuilder.toString());
        // inefficientString requires a lot more work to produce, as it generates a String on every loop iteration.
        // Simple concatenation with + is compiled to a StringBuilder and toString()
        // Avoid string concatenation in loops.

        // #3 - with String formatter
        // Another alternative way to create strings. Fast and readable.
        String.format("%s may prefer %s.", "Or you", "String.format()");
        // Output: Or you may prefer String.format().

        // Arrays
        // The array size must be decided upon instantiation
        // The following formats work for declaring an array
        // <datatype>[] <var name> = new <datatype>[<array size>];
        // <datatype> <var name>[] = new <datatype>[<array size>];
        int[] intArray = new int[10];
        String[] stringArray = new String[1];
        boolean boolArray[] = new boolean[100];

        // Another way to declare & initialize an array
        int[] y = {9000, 1000, 1337};
        String names[] = {"Bob", "John", "Fred", "Juan Pedro"};
        boolean bools[] = {true, false, false};

        // Indexing an array - Accessing an element
        System.out.println("intArray @ 0: " + intArray[0]);

        // Arrays are zero-indexed and mutable.
        intArray[1] = 1;
        System.out.println("intArray @ 1: " + intArray[1]); // => 1

        // Other data types worth checking out
        // ArrayLists - Like arrays except more functionality is offered, and
        //              the size is mutable.
        // LinkedLists - Implementation of doubly-linked list. All of the
        //               operations perform as could be expected for a
        //               doubly-linked list.
        // Maps - A mapping of key Objects to value Objects. Map is
        //        an interface and therefore cannot be instantiated.
        //        The type of keys and values contained in a Map must
        //        be specified upon instantiation of the implementing
        //        class. Each key may map to only one corresponding value,
        //        and each key may appear only once (no duplicates).
        // HashMaps - This class uses a hashtable to implement the Map
        //            interface. This allows the execution time of basic
        //            operations, such as get and insert element, to remain
        //            constant-amortized even for large sets.
        // TreeMap - A Map that is sorted by its keys. Each modification 
        //           maintains the sorting defined by either a Comparator
        //           supplied at instantiation, or comparisons of each Object
        //           if they implement the Comparable interface.
        //           Failure of keys to implement Comparable combined with failure to
        //           supply a Comparator will throw ClassCastExceptions.
        //           Insertion and removal operations take O(log(n)) time
        //           so avoid using this data structure unless you are taking
        //           advantage of the sorting.

        ///////////////////////////////////////
        // Operators
        ///////////////////////////////////////
        System.out.println("\n->Operators");

        int i1 = 1, i2 = 2; // Shorthand for multiple declarations

        // Arithmetic is straightforward
        System.out.println("1+2 = " + (i1 + i2)); // => 3
        System.out.println("2-1 = " + (i2 - i1)); // => 1
        System.out.println("2*1 = " + (i2 * i1)); // => 2
        System.out.println("1/2 = " + (i1 / i2)); // => 0 (int/int returns int)
        System.out.println("1/2 = " + (i1 / (double)i2)); // => 0.5

        // Modulo
        System.out.println("11%3 = "+(11 % 3)); // => 2

        // Comparison operators
        System.out.println("3 == 2? " + (3 == 2)); // => false
        System.out.println("3 != 2? " + (3 != 2)); // => true
        System.out.println("3 > 2? " + (3 > 2)); // => true
        System.out.println("3 < 2? " + (3 < 2)); // => false
        System.out.println("2 <= 2? " + (2 <= 2)); // => true
        System.out.println("2 >= 2? " + (2 >= 2)); // => true

        // Boolean operators
        System.out.println("3 > 2 && 2 > 3? " + ((3 > 2) && (2 > 3))); // => false
        System.out.println("3 > 2 || 2 > 3? " + ((3 > 2) || (2 > 3))); // => true
        System.out.println("!(3 == 2)? " + (!(3 == 2))); // => true

        // Bitwise operators!
        /*
        ~      Unary bitwise complement
        <<     Signed left shift
        >>     Signed/Arithmetic right shift
        >>>    Unsigned/Logical right shift
        &      Bitwise AND
        ^      Bitwise exclusive OR
        |      Bitwise inclusive OR
        */

        // Increment operators
        int i = 0;
        System.out.println("\n->Inc/Dec-rementation");
        // The ++ and -- operators increment and decrement by 1 respectively.
        // If they are placed before the variable, they increment then return;
        // after the variable they return then increment.
        System.out.println(i++); // i = 1, prints 0 (post-increment)
        System.out.println(++i); // i = 2, prints 2 (pre-increment)
        System.out.println(i--); // i = 1, prints 2 (post-decrement)
        System.out.println(--i); // i = 0, prints 0 (pre-decrement)

        ///////////////////////////////////////
        // Control Structures
        ///////////////////////////////////////
        System.out.println("\n->Control Structures");

        // If statements are c-like
        int j = 10;
        if (j == 10) {
            System.out.println("I get printed");
        } else if (j > 10) {
            System.out.println("I don't");
        } else {
            System.out.println("I also don't");
        }

        // While loop
        int fooWhile = 0;
        while(fooWhile < 100) {
            System.out.println(fooWhile);
            // Increment the counter
            // Iterated 100 times, fooWhile 0,1,2...99
            fooWhile++;
        }
        System.out.println("fooWhile Value: " + fooWhile);

        // Do While Loop
        int fooDoWhile = 0;
        do {
            System.out.println(fooDoWhile);
            // Increment the counter
            // Iterated 99 times, fooDoWhile 0->99
            fooDoWhile++;
        } while(fooDoWhile < 100);
        System.out.println("fooDoWhile Value: " + fooDoWhile);

        // For Loop
        // for loop structure => for(<start_statement>; <conditional>; <step>)
        for (int fooFor = 0; fooFor < 10; fooFor++) {
            System.out.println(fooFor);
            // Iterated 10 times, fooFor 0->9
        }
        System.out.println("fooFor Value: " + fooFor);

        // Nested For Loop Exit with Label
        outer:
        for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
          for (int j = 0; j < 10; j++) {
            if (i == 5 && j ==5) {
              break outer;
              // breaks out of outer loop instead of only the inner one
            }
          }
        }

        // For Each Loop
        // The for loop is also able to iterate over arrays as well as objects
        // that implement the Iterable interface.
        int[] fooList = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9};
        // for each loop structure => for (<object> : <iterable>)
        // reads as: for each element in the iterable
        // note: the object type must match the element type of the iterable.
        for (int bar : fooList) {
            System.out.println(bar);
            //Iterates 9 times and prints 1-9 on new lines
        }

        // Switch Case
        // A switch works with the byte, short, char, and int data types.
        // It also works with enumerated types (discussed in Enum Types), the
        // String class, and a few special classes that wrap primitive types:
        // Character, Byte, Short, and Integer.
        // Starting in Java 7 and above, we can also use the String type.
        // Note: Do remember that, not adding "break" at end any particular case ends up in
        // executing the very next case(given it satisfies the condition provided) as well.
        int month = 3;
        String monthString;
        switch (month) {
            case 1: monthString = "January";
                    break;
            case 2: monthString = "February";
                    break;
            case 3: monthString = "March";
                    break;
            default: monthString = "Some other month";
                     break;
        }
        System.out.println("Switch Case Result: " + monthString);


        // Try-with-resources (Java 7+)
        // Try-catch-finally statements work as expected in Java but in Java 7+
        // the try-with-resources statement is also available. Try-with-resources
        // simplifies try-catch-finally statements by closing resources
        // automatically.

        // In order to use a try-with-resources, include an instance of a class
        // in the try statement. The class must implement java.lang.AutoCloseable.
        try (BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader("foo.txt"))) {
            // You can attempt to do something that could throw an exception.
            System.out.println(br.readLine());
            // In Java 7, the resource will always be closed, even if it throws
            // an Exception.
        } catch (Exception ex) {
            //The resource will be closed before the catch statement executes.
            System.out.println("readLine() failed.");
        }
        // No need for a finally statement in this case, the BufferedReader is
        // already closed. This can be used to avoid certain edge cases where
        // a finally statement might not be called.
        // To learn more:
        // https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/exceptions/tryResourceClose.html


        // Conditional Shorthand
        // You can use the '?' operator for quick assignments or logic forks.
        // Reads as "If (statement) is true, use <first value>, otherwise, use
        // <second value>"
        int foo = 5;
        String bar = (foo < 10) ? "A" : "B";
        System.out.println("bar : " + bar); // Prints "bar : A", because the 
        // statement is true.
        // Or simply
        System.out.println("bar : " + (foo < 10 ? "A" : "B"));
        

        ////////////////////////////////////////
        // Converting Data Types
        ////////////////////////////////////////

        // Converting data

        // Convert String To Integer
        Integer.parseInt("123");//returns an integer version of "123"

        // Convert Integer To String
        Integer.toString(123);//returns a string version of 123

        // For other conversions check out the following classes:
        // Double
        // Long
        // String

        ///////////////////////////////////////
        // Classes And Functions
        ///////////////////////////////////////

        System.out.println("\n->Classes & Functions");

        // (definition of the Bicycle class follows)

        // Use new to instantiate a class
        Bicycle trek = new Bicycle();

        // Call object methods
        trek.speedUp(3); // You should always use setter and getter methods
        trek.setCadence(100);

        // toString returns this Object's string representation.
        System.out.println("trek info: " + trek.toString());

        // Double Brace Initialization
        // The Java Language has no syntax for how to create static Collections
        // in an easy way. Usually you end up in the following way:
        private static final Set<String> COUNTRIES = new HashSet<String>();
        static {
           COUNTRIES.add("DENMARK");
           COUNTRIES.add("SWEDEN");
           COUNTRIES.add("FINLAND");
        }

        // But there's a nifty way to achieve the same thing in an
        // easier way, by using something that is called Double Brace
        // Initialization.
        private static final Set<String> COUNTRIES = new HashSet<String>() {{
            add("DENMARK");
            add("SWEDEN");
            add("FINLAND");
        }}

        // The first brace is creating a new AnonymousInnerClass and the
        // second one declares an instance initializer block. This block
        // is called when the anonymous inner class is created.
        // This does not only work for Collections, it works for all
        // non-final classes.

    } // End main method
} // End LearnJava class

// You can include other, non-public outer-level classes in a .java file,
// but it is not good practice. Instead split classes into separate files.

// Class Declaration Syntax:
// <public/private/protected> class <class name> {
//    // data fields, constructors, functions all inside.
//    // functions are called as methods in Java.
// }

class Bicycle {

    // Bicycle's Fields/Variables
    public int cadence; // Public: Can be accessed from anywhere
    private int speed;  // Private: Only accessible from within the class
    protected int gear; // Protected: Accessible from the class and subclasses
    String name; // default: Only accessible from within this package
    static String className; // Static class variable

    // Static block
    // Java has no implementation of static constructors, but
    // has a static block that can be used to initialize class variables
    // (static variables).
    // This block will be called when the class is loaded.
    static {
        className = "Bicycle";
    }

    // Constructors are a way of creating classes
    // This is a constructor
    public Bicycle() {
        // You can also call another constructor:
        // this(1, 50, 5, "Bontrager");
        gear = 1;
        cadence = 50;
        speed = 5;
        name = "Bontrager";
    }
    // This is a constructor that takes arguments
    public Bicycle(int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear,
        String name) {
        this.gear = startGear;
        this.cadence = startCadence;
        this.speed = startSpeed;
        this.name = name;
    }

    // Method Syntax:
    // <public/private/protected> <return type> <function name>(<args>)

    // Java classes often implement getters and setters for their fields

    // Method declaration syntax:
    // <access modifier> <return type> <method name>(<args>)
    public int getCadence() {
        return cadence;
    }

    // void methods require no return statement
    public void setCadence(int newValue) {
        cadence = newValue;
    }
    public void setGear(int newValue) {
        gear = newValue;
    }
    public void speedUp(int increment) {
        speed += increment;
    }
    public void slowDown(int decrement) {
        speed -= decrement;
    }
    public void setName(String newName) {
        name = newName;
    }
    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    //Method to display the attribute values of this Object.
    @Override // Inherited from the Object class.
    public String toString() {
        return "gear: " + gear + " cadence: " + cadence + " speed: " + speed +
            " name: " + name;
    }
} // end class Bicycle

// PennyFarthing is a subclass of Bicycle
class PennyFarthing extends Bicycle {
    // (Penny Farthings are those bicycles with the big front wheel.
    // They have no gears.)

    public PennyFarthing(int startCadence, int startSpeed) {
        // Call the parent constructor with super
        super(startCadence, startSpeed, 0, "PennyFarthing");
    }

    // You should mark a method you're overriding with an @annotation.
    // To learn more about what annotations are and their purpose check this
    // out: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/annotations/
    @Override
    public void setGear(int gear) {
        this.gear = 0;
    }
}

// Object casting
// Since the PennyFarthing class is extending the Bicycle class, we can say
// a PennyFarthing is a Bicycle and write :
// Bicycle bicycle = new PennyFarthing();
// This is called object casting where an object is taken for another one. There
// are lots of details and deals with some more intermediate concepts here:
// https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/subclasses.html

// Interfaces
// Interface declaration syntax
// <access-level> interface <interface-name> extends <super-interfaces> {
//     // Constants
//     // Method declarations
// }

// Example - Food:
public interface Edible {
    public void eat(); // Any class that implements this interface, must
                       // implement this method.
}

public interface Digestible {
    public void digest();
    // Since Java 8, interfaces can have default method.
    public default void defaultMethod() {
        System.out.println("Hi from default method ...");
    }
}

// We can now create a class that implements both of these interfaces.
public class Fruit implements Edible, Digestible {
    @Override
    public void eat() {
        // ...
    }

    @Override
    public void digest() {
        // ...
    }
}

// In Java, you can extend only one class, but you can implement many
// interfaces. For example:
public class ExampleClass extends ExampleClassParent implements InterfaceOne,
    InterfaceTwo {
    @Override
    public void InterfaceOneMethod() {
    }

    @Override
    public void InterfaceTwoMethod() {
    }

}

// Abstract Classes

// Abstract Class declaration syntax
// <access-level> abstract class <abstract-class-name> extends
// <super-abstract-classes> {
//     // Constants and variables
//     // Method declarations
// }

// Abstract Classes cannot be instantiated.
// Abstract classes may define abstract methods.
// Abstract methods have no body and are marked abstract
// Non-abstract child classes must @Override all abstract methods
// from their super-classes.
// Abstract classes can be useful when combining repetitive logic
// with customised behavior, but as Abstract classes require
// inheritance, they violate "Composition over inheritance"
// so consider other approaches using composition.
// https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_over_inheritance

public abstract class Animal
{
    private int age;

    public abstract void makeSound();

    // Method can have a body
    public void eat()
    {
        System.out.println("I am an animal and I am Eating.");
        // Note: We can access private variable here.
        age = 30;
    }

    public void printAge()
    {
        System.out.println(age);
    }

    // Abstract classes can have main method.
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.out.println("I am abstract");
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal
{
    // Note still have to override the abstract methods in the
    // abstract class.
    @Override
    public void makeSound()
    {
        System.out.println("Bark");
        // age = 30;    ==> ERROR!    age is private to Animal
    }

    // NOTE: You will get an error if you used the
    // @Override annotation here, since java doesn't allow
    // overriding of static methods.
    // What is happening here is called METHOD HIDING.
    // Check out this SO post: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16313649/
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Dog pluto = new Dog();
        pluto.makeSound();
        pluto.eat();
        pluto.printAge();
    }
}

// Final Classes

// Final Class declaration syntax
// <access-level> final <final-class-name> {
//     // Constants and variables
//     // Method declarations
// }

// Final classes are classes that cannot be inherited from and are therefore a
// final child. In a way, final classes are the opposite of abstract classes
// because abstract classes must be extended, but final classes cannot be
// extended.
public final class SaberToothedCat extends Animal
{
    // Note still have to override the abstract methods in the
    // abstract class.
    @Override
    public void makeSound()
    {
        System.out.println("Roar");
    }
}

// Final Methods
public abstract class Mammal()
{
    // Final Method Syntax:
    // <access modifier> final <return type> <function name>(<args>)

    // Final methods, like, final classes cannot be overridden by a child
    // class, and are therefore the final implementation of the method.
    public final boolean isWarmBlooded()
    {
        return true;
    }
}

// Enum Type
//
// An enum type is a special data type that enables for a variable to be a set
// of predefined constants. The variable must be equal to one of the values
// that have been predefined for it. Because they are constants, the names of
// an enum type's fields are in uppercase letters. In the Java programming
// language, you define an enum type by using the enum keyword. For example,
// you would specify a days-of-the-week enum type as:
public enum Day {
    SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY,
    THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY
}

// We can use our enum Day like that:
public class EnumTest {
    // Variable Enum
    Day day;

    public EnumTest(Day day) {
        this.day = day;
    }

    public void tellItLikeItIs() {
        switch (day) {
            case MONDAY:
                System.out.println("Mondays are bad.");
                break;
            case FRIDAY:
                System.out.println("Fridays are better.");
                break;
            case SATURDAY:
            case SUNDAY:
                System.out.println("Weekends are best.");
                break;
            default:
                System.out.println("Midweek days are so-so.");
                break;
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        EnumTest firstDay = new EnumTest(Day.MONDAY);
        firstDay.tellItLikeItIs(); // => Mondays are bad.
        EnumTest thirdDay = new EnumTest(Day.WEDNESDAY);
        thirdDay.tellItLikeItIs(); // => Midweek days are so-so.
    }
}

// Enum types are much more powerful than we show above.
// The enum body can include methods and other fields.
// You can see more at https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/enum.html

```

## Further Reading

The links provided here below are just to get an understanding of the topic, feel free to Google and find specific examples.

**Official Oracle Guides**:

* [Java Tutorial Trail from Sun / Oracle](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/index.html)

* [Java Access level modifiers](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/accesscontrol.html)

* [Object-Oriented Programming Concepts](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/concepts/index.html):
    * [Inheritance](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/subclasses.html)
    * [Polymorphism](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/polymorphism.html)
    * [Abstraction](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/abstract.html)

* [Exceptions](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/exceptions/index.html)

* [Interfaces](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/createinterface.html)

* [Generics](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/generics/index.html)

* [Java Code Conventions](https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/codeconvtoc-136057.html)

* New features in Java 8:
    * [Lambda expressions (functional programming)](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/lambdaexpressions.html)
    * [Date and time API (java.time package)](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/articles/java/jf14-date-time-2125367.html)

**Online Practice and Tutorials**

* [Learneroo.com - Learn Java](http://www.learneroo.com)

* [Codingbat.com](http://codingbat.com/java)

* [Codewars - Java Katas](https://www.codewars.com/?language=java)

**Books**:

* [Head First Java](http://www.headfirstlabs.com/books/hfjava/)

* [Thinking in Java](http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/)

* [Objects First with Java](https://www.amazon.com/Objects-First-Java-Practical-Introduction/dp/0132492660)

* [Java The Complete Reference](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071606300)