Exploring Java : My Learning Adventure Part

Welcome back! I hope you have read my first blog on Java. If not, here's the link to the blog https://mahia.hashnode.dev/exploring-java-my-learning-adventure

Okay so let's start with reading from keyboard

Reading from Keyboard

Reading from the keyboard means capturing user input during the execution of a program.Just like in C language scanf is used for reading data, in C++ cin is used for reading data, in Python input() is used for reading data, similarly, in Java Scanner is used for reading data. Scanner is basically a class that will allow you to read data from different sources. Let's focus on keyboard being the source of data here.

Scanner is a part of the util package. To use the class, first import the util package, import java.util.Scanner;, then create an object. (I have attached demo, scroll down)

The Scanner class in Java has has various methods to read different types of data from the keyboard. Let me show you some :

next()
- Usage:String input =scanner.next();
- Description: Reads the next token (word) from the keyboard.
nextInt()
- Usage:int number = scanner.nextInt();
- Description: Reads the next token as an integer. If the input is not a valid integer, it throws an InputMismatchException.
nextFloat()
- Usage:float number = scanner.nextFloat();
- Description: Reads the next token as a float. If the input is not a valid float, it throws an InputMismatchException.
nextBoolean()
- Usage:boolean value = scanner.nextBoolean();
- Description: Reads the next token as a boolean (true or false). If the input is not a valid boolean, it throws an InputMismatchException.
nextDouble()
- Usage:double number = scanner.nextDouble();
- Description: Reads the next token as a double. If the input is not a valid double, it throws an InputMismatchException.
nextLine()
- Usage:String input = scanner.nextLine();
- Description: Reads a full line of text from the keyboard until the user presses Enter.
hasNextInt()
- Usage:boolean hasInt = scanner.hasNextInt();
- Description: Checks if the next token is an integer. Returns true if it is, false otherwise.
hasNextFloat()
- Usage:boolean hasInt = scanner.hasNextFloat();
- Description: Checks if the next token is an float. Returns true if it is, false otherwise.
hasNextDouble()
- Usage:boolean hasDouble = scanner.hasNextDouble();
- Description: Checks if the next token is a double. Returns true if it is, false otherwise.
nextLong()
- Usage:long number = scanner.nextLong();
- Description: Reads the next token as a long. If the input is not a valid long, it throws an InputMismatchException.
nextShort()
- Usage:short number = scanner.nextShort();
- Description: Reads the next token as a short. If the input is not a valid short, it throws an InputMismatchException.
nextByte()
- Usage:byte number = scanner.nextByte();
- Description: Reads the next token as a byte. If the input is not a valid byte, it throws an InputMismatchException

Let's write a code in Java using nextInt() Scanner method.

import java.util.*,
class Keyboard
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
        {
            Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in); // Declaring variable
            int a,b,c ; 
            System.out.println('Enter two numbers)
            a = sc.nextInt(); 
            b = sc.nextInt(); 
            c = a+b ;
            System.out.println("Sum is " + c) ;
        }
}

Basically, whatever you type it comes through the Scanner class. Scanner class is the bridge between your program and keyboard.

Data types

Data is the main part of a program. When a program runs in the memory, it holds the data temporarily in the memory rather than storing it permanently on the hard disk. So where is the data being stored? It is being stored in variables. Variables are meant for storing data.

Primitive data are built-in data types. They are predefined by the language.

Java has eight primitive data types. Each has a specific purpose, size, and value range. Here’s a brief overview of each:

1. byte

Size: 8-bit (1 byte)
Range: -128 to 127
Default Value: 0
Usage: Useful for saving memory in large arrays where the memory savings are most needed.

2. short

Size: 16-bit (2 bytes)
Range: -32,768 to 32,767
Default Value: 0
Usage: Can be used to save memory in large arrays, similar to byte.

3. int

Size: 32-bit ( 4 bytes)
Range: -2^31 to 2^31-1 (-2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647)
Default Value: 0
Usage: Most commonly used integer type for general-purpose integer arithmetic.

4. long

Size: 64-bit (8 bytes)
Range: -2^63 to 2^63-1 (-9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807)
Default Value: 0L you have to append L to let the compiler know
Usage: Used when a wider range than int is needed.

5. float

Size: 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point
Range: Approximately ±3.40282347E+38F (6-7 significant decimal digits)
Default Value: 0.0f you have to append f to let the compiler know
Usage: Use for saving memory in large arrays of floating point numbers. Not recommended for precise values such as currency.

6. double

Size: 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point
Range: Approximately ±1.79769313486231570E+308 (15 significant decimal digits)
Default Value: 0.0d you have to append d to let the compiler know
Usage: Default data type for decimal values. Generally, the default choice for decimal values.

7. boolean

Size: Not precisely defined (depends on JVM)
Range: true or false
Default Value: false
Usage: Use for simple flags that track true/false conditions.

8. char

Size: 16-bit Unicode character
Range: '\u0000' (or 0) to '\uffff' (or 65,535)
Default Value: '\u0000'
Usage: Used to store any character.

Variables

What are Variables?

Variables are names given to data. Each variable must have a specific data type, like byte, int, float, etc. The data type must be declared before the variable can be used. For example, you cannot write x int = 20; you need to declare the data type first, like this: int x = 20.

The variable will take up space as per to its data type. byte takes up 8 bits where int takes up 32 bits, got it?

Variable naming rules

Case sensitive : Lower case and upper case are different
Symbols : Alphabet, numbers and only two special character _ and $ can be used. No other that this
Start : variable name must start with a alphabet
Should not be a keywords
Don't use class name
it’s good practice to use descriptive names that indicate the variable's purpose.
Follow the Camel cases

Literals

literals are the fixed values assigned to variables. They represent the constant values assigned in the code. 5 is an int literal. Any value with a decimal point is double. Any value without a decimal is an integer. 'A' is a char literal, and "A" is a string literal. The difference lies within the quotes. If it's a single quote, then it's a character, and if it's double, then it's a string.

Literals	types
byte	int
short	int
int	int
long	L or l
float	F or f
double	D or d
char	' '
Boolean	True/False

byte b = 5; is a byte data type. short s = 25; is a short data type. But what about int? How do you state an int number? Okay, first, let's see other data type declarations. If you have any int that ends with 5L, then it's not an int, it's a long literal. 2.5 is by default a double literal. To make it float, you have to append F/f, 2.5F. That's how you declare literals. Even float f='p'; is possible too.

import java.lang.*; 
class Literal
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        byte b = 5;
        System.out.println(b);
        int x = 5555; 
        System.out.println(x);
        short s = 5;
        System.out.println(s);
        long l = 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999L
        System.out.println(l);
        float f = 12.23F
        System.out.println(f);
        double d = 12.23
        System.out.println(d);
    }
}

That's it for today and be sure to try them out.

In the next blog, i will talk about Operator and Expression.

In the meantime, don't forget to stay hydrated! Happy learning!

Exploring Java : My Learning Adventure Part - 02

Reading from Keyboard, Data types and Variables

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