The JavaTM Tutorial

The Really Big Index
A list of all content pages in the The JavaTM Tutorial

Here's a list of all of the trails in The Java Tutorial. Each item in this list links to the location on this page where a particular trail's lessons and pages are listed in order.

Trails published in The Java Tutorial Third Edition:

Trails published in The JFC Swing Tutorial: Trails published in The Java Tutorial Continued: Trails available only online:

Trail: Getting Started

The Java Technology Phenomenon
About the Java Technology
What Can Java Technology Do?
How Will Java Technology Change My Life?
The "Hello World" Application
"Hello World" for Microsoft Windows
"Hello World" for UNIX
"Hello World" for Mac OS X
A Closer Look at the "Hello World" Application
    Comments in Java Code
    Defining a Class
    The main Method
    Using Classes and Objects
Common Problems (and Their Solutions)
Questions and Exercises: Getting Started

Trail: Learning the Java Language

Object-Oriented Programming Concepts
What Is an Object?
What Is a Message?
What Is a Class?
What Is Inheritance?
What Is an Interface?
How Do These Concepts Translate into Code?
Questions and Exercises: Object-Oriented Concepts
Language Basics
Variables
    Data Types
    Variable Names
    Scope
    Variable Initialization
    Final Variables
    Summary of Variables
    Questions and Exercises: Variables
Operators
    Arithmetic Operators
    Relational and Conditional Operators
    Shift and Bitwise Operators
    Assignment Operators
    Other Operators
    Summary of Operators
    Questions and Exercises: Operators
Expressions, Statements, and Blocks
Questions and Exercises: Expressions, Statements, and Blocks
Control Flow Statements
    The while and do-while Statements
    The for Statement
    The if and else Statements
    The switch Statement
    Exception-Handling Statements
    Branching Statements
    Summary of Control Flow Statements
    Questions and Exercises: Control Flow Statements
Object Basics and Simple Data Objects
The Life Cycle of an Object
    Creating Objects
    Using Objects
    Cleaning Up Unused Objects
    Summary of Creating and Using Objects
    Questions and Exercises: Creating and Using Objects
Characters and Strings
    Characters
    Strings, String Buffers, and String Builders
    Creating Strings, String Buffers, and String Builders
    Getting the Length of a String, String Buffer, or String Builder
    Getting Characters by Index from a String, String Buffer, or String Builder
    Searching for a Character or a Substring within a String
    Replacing Strings and Portions of Strings
    Comparing Strings and Portions of Strings
    Manipulating Strings
    Modifying String Buffers and String Builders
    Strings and the Compiler
    Summary of Characters and Strings
    Questions and Exercises: Characters and Strings
Numbers
    The Numbers Classes
    Converting Strings to Numbers
    Converting Numbers to Strings
    Formatting Numbers
    Formatting Numbers with Custom Formats
    Beyond Basic Arithmetic
    Summary of Numbers
    Questions and Exercises: Numbers
Arrays
    Creating and Using Arrays
    Arrays of Objects
    Arrays of Arrays
    Copying Arrays
    Summary of Arrays
    Questions and Exercises: Arrays
Classes and Inheritance
Creating Classes
    Declaring Classes
    Declaring Member Variables
    Defining Methods
    Providing Constructors for Your Classes
    Passing Information into a Method or a Constructor
    Returning a Value from a Method
    Using the this Keyword
    Controlling Access to Members of a Class
    Understanding Instance and Class Members
    Initializing Instance and Class Members
    Summary of Creating Classes
    Questions and Exercises: Creating Classes
Managing Inheritance
    Overriding and Hiding Methods
    Hiding Member Variables
    Using super
    Being a Descendent of Object
    Writing Final Classes and Methods
    Writing Abstract Classes and Methods
    Summary of Managing Inheritance
    Questions and Exercises: Managing Inheritance
Nested Classes
    Inner Classes
    Summary of Nested Classes
    Questions and Exercises: Nested Classes
Enumerated Types
Questions and Exercises: Enumerated Types
Annotations
Questions and Exercises: Annotations
Generics
    Using Generic Types
    Wildcard Types
    Using Generic Methods
    Summary of Generics
    Questions and Exercises: Generics
Interfaces and Packages
Creating and Using Interfaces
    Defining an Interface
    Implementing an Interface
    Using an Interface as a Type
    Warning! Interfaces Cannot Grow
    The "Static Import" Construct
    Summary of Creating and Using Interfaces
    Questions and Exercises: Creating and Using Interfaces
Creating and Using Packages
    Creating a Package
    Naming a Package
    Using Package Members
    Managing Source and Class Files
    Summary of Creating and Using Packages
    Questions and Exercises: Creating and Using Packages
Solving Common Coding Problems

Trail: Essential Java Classes

Handling Errors Using Exceptions
What Is an Exception?
The Catch or Specify Requirement
    Catching and Handling Exceptions
        The try Block
        The catch Blocks
        The finally Block
        Putting It All Together
    Specifying the Exceptions Thrown by a Method
How to Throw Exceptions
    Chained Exceptions
    Creating Exception Classes
Unchecked Exceptions—The Controversy
Advantages of Exceptions
Summary
Questions and Exercises
Threads: Doing Two or More Tasks at Once
What Is a Thread?
Using the Timer and TimerTask Classes
Implementing a Thread
    Subclassing Thread and Overriding run
    Implementing the Runnable Interface
The Life Cycle of a Thread
Thread Scheduling
Synchronizing Threads
    The Producer/Consumer Example
    Locking an Object
        Reacquiring a Lock
    Using the notifyAll and wait Methods
    Running the Producer-Consumer Example
    Explicit Locks and Condition Variables
    Synchronized Data Structures
    Starvation and Deadlock
Thread Pools
Summary
Questions and Exercises: Threads
I/O
Overview of I/O Streams
Using the Streams
    How to Use File Streams
    How to Use Pipe Streams
    How to Wrap a Stream
    How to Concatenate Files
    Working with Filter Streams
        How to Use DataInputStream and DataOutputStream
        How to Write Your Own Filter Streams
Scanning and Formatting
    Scanning
    Formatting
Object Serialization
    Serializing Objects
    Providing Object Serialization for Your Classes
Working with Random Access Files
    Using Random Access Files
    Writing Filters for Random Access Files
The New I/O Packages
Summary
Questions and Exercises: I/O: Reading and Writing
Setting Program Attributes
Using Properties to Manage Program Attributes
Command-Line Arguments
Accessing System Resources
Using the System Class
The Standard I/O Streams
System Properties
Forcing Finalization and Garbage Collection
Providing Your Own Security Manager
    Introducing the Security Manager
    Writing a Security Manager
    Installing Your Security Manager
    Deciding What SecurityManager Methods to Override
Miscellaneous System Methods
The Runtime Object

Trail: Deployment

Packaging Programs in JAR Files
Using JAR Files: The Basics
    Creating a JAR File
    Viewing the Contents of a JAR File
    Extracting the Contents of a JAR File
    Updating a JAR File
    Running JAR-Packaged Software
Working with Manifest Files: The Basics
    Understanding the Default Manifest
    Modifying a Manifest File
    Setting an Application's Entry Point
    Adding Classes to the JAR File's Classpath
    Setting Package Version Information
    Sealing Packages within a JAR File
Signing and Verifying JAR Files
    Understanding Signing and Verification
    Signing JAR Files
    Verifying Signed JAR Files
Using JAR-related APIs
    The JarClassLoader Class
    The JarRunner Class
Java Web Start
Running Java Web Start Applications
Deploying Java Web Start Applications
Developing Java Web Start Applications
The JNLP API
Java Web Start and Security
Common Java Web Start Problems
Questions and Exercises: Java Web Start
Applets
Getting Started with Applets
    Importing Classes and Packages for Applets
    Defining an Applet Subclass
    The Life Cycle of an Applet
    Methods for Milestones
    Methods for Drawing and Event Handling
    Methods for Adding UI Components
    What Applets Can and Can't Do
Taking Advantage of the Applet API
    Finding and Loading Data Files
    Displaying Short Status Strings
    Displaying Documents in the Browser
    Sending Messages to Other Applets
    Playing Sounds
    Defining and Using Applet Parameters
        Deciding Which Parameters to Support
        Writing the Code to Support Parameters
        Giving Information about Parameters
    Using the APPLET Tag
Practical Considerations When Writing Applets
    Security Restrictions
    Creating a User Interface
        Creating a GUI
        Displaying Diagnostics to the Standard Output and Error Streams
    Getting System Properties
    Threads in Applets
        Threads in Applets: Examples
    Working with a Server-Side Application
        A Simple Network Client Applet
        Using a Server to Work Around Security Restrictions
Finishing an Applet
    Before You Ship that Applet
    The Perfectly Finished Applet
Deploying Applets
    General Deployment Considerations
    Using the applet Tag
    Using the object Tag
    Using the embed Tag
    Deploying Applets in a Mixed-Browser Environment
Solving Common Applet Problems
Questions and Exercises: Java Applets

Trail: Creating a GUI with JFC/Swing

Getting Started with Swing
About the JFC and Swing
Compiling and Running Swing Programs
Questions and Exercises: Getting Started with Swing
    Answers: Getting Started with Swing
Learning Swing by Example
Example One: Your First Swing Program
Example Two: SwingApplication
Example Three: CelsiusConverter
Example Four: An Improved CelsiusConverter
Example Five: LunarPhases
Example Six: VoteDialog
Summary
Questions and Exercises: Learning Swing by Example
    Answers: Learning Swing by Example
Using Swing Components
A Visual Index to the Swing Components
Using HTML in Swing Components
Using Top-Level Containers
Using Models
The JComponent Class
Using Text Components
    Text Component Features
    The Text Component API
How to...
How to Make Applets
How to Use Buttons, Check Boxes, and Radio Buttons
How to Use Color Choosers
How to Use Combo Boxes
How to Make Dialogs
How to Use Editor Panes and Text Panes
How to Use File Choosers
How to Use Formatted Text Fields
How to Make Frames (Main Windows)
How to Use Internal Frames
How to Use Labels
How to Use Layered Panes
How to Use Lists
How to Use Menus
How to Use Panels
How to Use Password Fields
How to Use Progress Bars
How to Use Root Panes
How to Use Scroll Panes
How to Use Separators
How to Use Sliders
How to Use Spinners
How to Use Split Panes
How to Use Tabbed Panes
How to Use Tables
How to Use Text Areas
How to Use Text Fields
How to Use Tool Bars
How to Use Tool Tips
How to Use Trees
Solving Common Component Problems
Questions and Exercises: Using Swing Components
    Answers: Using Swing Components
Using Other Swing Features
How to Use Actions
How to Support Assistive Technologies
How to Use Borders
How to Use Drag and Drop and Data Transfer
How to Use the Focus Subsystem
How to Use Icons
How to Use Key Bindings
How to Set the Look and Feel
How to Use Threads
How to Use Swing Timers
Solving Common Problems Using Other Swing Features
Laying Out Components Within a Container
A Visual Guide to Layout Managers
Using Layout Managers
How Layout Management Works
How to...
How to Use BorderLayout
How to Use BoxLayout
How to Use CardLayout
How to Use FlowLayout
How to Use GridBagLayout
How to Use GridLayout
How to Use SpringLayout
Creating a Custom Layout Manager
Doing Without a Layout Manager (Absolute Positioning)
Solving Common Layout Problems
Questions and Exercises: Laying Out Components within a Container
    Answers: Laying Out Components within a Container
Writing Event Listeners
Introduction to Event Listeners
General Information about Writing Event Listeners
Listeners Supported by Swing Components
Implementing Listeners for Commonly Handled Events
    How to Write an Action Listener
    How to Write a Caret Listener
    How to Write a Change Listener
    How to Write a Component Listener
    How to Write a Container Listener
    How to Write a Document Listener
    How to Write a Focus Listener
    How to Write an Internal Frame Listener
    How to Write an Item Listener
    How to Write a Key Listener
    How to Write a List Data Listener
    How to Write a List Selection Listener
    How to Write a Mouse Listener
    How to Write a Mouse-Motion Listener
    How to Write a Mouse-Wheel Listener
    How to Write a Property Change Listener
    How to Write a Table Model Listener
    How to Write a Tree Expansion Listener
    How to Write a Tree Model Listener
    How to Write a Tree Selection Listener
    How to Write a Tree-Will-Expand Listener
    How to Write an Undoable Edit Listener
    How to Write Window Listeners
Listener API Table
Solving Common Event-Handling Problems
Questions and Exercises: Writing Event Listeners
    Answers: Writing Event Listeners
Performing Custom Painting
How Swing Components Are Displayed
Introduction to Painting Concepts
Implementing a Custom Component
Summary
Solving Common Painting Problems
Questions and Exercises: Performing Custom Painting
    Answers: Performing Custom Painting

Trail: Overview

Essential Classes
Advanced GUI Building
Networking and Connectivity
Packaging
Advanced Language Topics
Tables of JDK Features

Trail: Collections

Introduction to Collections
Interfaces
The Collection Interface
The Set Interface
The List Interface
The Queue Interface
The Map Interface
Object Ordering
The SortedSet Interface
The SortedMap Interface
Summary of Interfaces
Questions and Exercises: Interfaces
Implementations
Set Implementations
List Implementations
Map Implementations
Queue Implementations
Wrapper Implementations
Convenience Implementations
Summary of Implementations
Questions and Exercises: Implementations
Algorithms
Custom Collection Implementations
Interoperability
Compatibility
API Design
Solving Common Collections Problems

Trail: Internationalization

Introduction
A Quick Example
    Before Internationalization
    After Internationalization
    Running the Sample Program
    Internationalizing the Sample Program
Checklist
Setting the Locale
Creating a Locale
Identifying Available Locales
The Scope of a Locale
Isolating Locale-Specific Data
About the ResourceBundle Class
Preparing to Use a ResourceBundle
Backing a ResourceBundle with Properties Files
Using a ListResourceBundle
Formatting
Numbers and Currencies
    Customizing Formats
Dates and Times
    Using Predefined Formats
    Customizing Formats
    Changing Date Format Symbols
Messages
    Dealing with Compound Messages
    Handling Plurals
Working with Text
Checking Character Properties
Comparing Strings
    Performing Locale-Independent Comparisons
    Customizing Collation Rules
    Improving Collation Performance
Detecting Text Boundaries
    About the BreakIterator Class
    Character Boundaries
    Word Boundaries
    Sentence Boundaries
    Line Boundaries
Converting Non-Unicode Text
    Byte Encodings and Strings
    Character and Byte Streams

Trail: 2D Graphics

Overview of the Java 2D API
Java 2D Rendering
Coordinate Systems
Shapes
Text
Images
Printing
Displaying Graphics with Graphics2D
Stroking and Filling Graphics Primitives
Transforming Shapes, Text, and Images
Clipping the Drawing Region
Compositing Graphics
Controlling Rendering Quality
Constructing Complex Shapes from Geometry Primitives
Supporting User Interaction
Working with Text and Fonts
Creating and Deriving Fonts
Drawing Multiple Lines of Text
Manipulating and Displaying Images
Immediate-Mode Imaging with BufferedImage
Filtering a BufferedImage
Using a BufferedImage for Double Buffering
Printing
Overview of Printing in Java
Printing the Contents of a Component
Displaying a Page Setup Dialog
Printing a Collection of Pages
Solving Common 2D Graphics Problems
Improving Printing Performance

Trail: Sound

Overview
Playing Sounds
Solving Common Sound Problems

Trail: JavaBeans(TM)

JavaBeans Concepts and the Beans Development Kit
JavaBeans Concepts
The Beans Development Kit
Using the BeanBox
Starting and Using the BeanBox
The BeanBox Menus
Using the BeanBox to Generate Applets
Writing a Simple Bean
Properties
Simple Properties
Bound Properties
Constrained Properties
Indexed Properties
Manipulating Events in the BeanBox
The BeanInfo Interface
Bean Customization
Bean Persistence
Using the BeanContext API
Overview of the BeanContext API
Bean Context #1: Containment Only
Bean Context #2: Containment and Services
AWT Containers and the BeanContextProxy Interface
New JavaBeans Features

Trail: JDBC(TM) Database Access

JDBC Basics
Getting Started
Setting Up a Database
Establishing a Connection
Setting Up Tables
Retrieving Values from Result Sets
Updating Tables
Milestone: The Basics of JDBC
Using Prepared Statements
Using Joins
Using Transactions
Stored Procedures
SQL Statements for Creating a Stored Procedure
Creating Complete JDBC Applications
Running the Sample Applications
Creating an Applet from an Application
New Features in the JDBC 2.0 API
Getting Set Up to Use the JDBC 2.0 API
Moving the Cursor in Scrollable Result Sets
Making Updates to Updatable Result Sets
Updating a Result Set Programmatically
Inserting and Deleting Rows Programmatically
Code Sample for Inserting a Row
Deleting a Row
Making Batch Updates
Using SQL3 Datatypes
Standard Extension Features

Trail: RMI

An Overview of RMI Applications
Writing an RMI Server
    Designing a Remote Interface
    Implementing a Remote Interface
Creating a Client Program
Compiling and Running the Example
    Compiling the Example Programs
    Running the Example Programs

Trail: IDL

Introducing Java IDL
What is Java IDL?
The CORBA Architecture
The Java IDL Development Process
The Hello Client-Server Example
Writing the IDL Interface
Developing a Client Application
Developing the Hello World Server
Compiling and Running the Hello World Application
Using Stringified Object References
Summary

Trail: Security in Java 2 SDK 1.2

Security Features Overview
Quick Tour of Controlling Applets
Observe Applet Restrictions
Set up a Policy File to Grant the Required Permission
    Start Policy Tool
    Grant the Required Permission
    Save the Policy File
See the Policy File Effects
Quick Tour of Controlling Applications
Observe Application Freedom
See How to Restrict Applications
Set up the Policy File to Grant the Required Permissions
    Open the Policy File
    Grant the Required Permissions
    Save the Policy File
See the Policy File Effects
API and Tools Use for Secure Code and File Exchanges
Signing Code and Granting It Permissions
Steps for the Code Signer
    Download and Try the Sample Application
    Create a JAR File Containing the Class File
    Generate Keys
    Sign the JAR File
    Export the Public Key Certificate
Steps for the Code Receiver
    Observe the Restricted Application
    Import the Certificate as a Trusted Certificate
    Set Up a Policy File to Grant the Required Permission
        Start Policy Tool
        Specify the Keystore
        Add a Policy Entry with a SignedBy Alias
        Save the Policy File
    See the Policy File Effects
Exchanging Files
Steps for the Contract Sender
    Create a JAR File Containing the Contract
    Generate Keys
    Sign the JAR File
    Export the Public Key Certificate
Steps for the Contract Receiver
    Import the Certificate as a Trusted Certificate
    Verify the JAR File Signature
Generating and Verifying Signatures
Generating a Digital Signature
    Prepare Initial Program Structure
    Generate Public and Private Keys
    Sign the Data
    Save the Signature and the Public Key in Files
    Compile and Run the Program
Verifying a Digital Signature
    Prepare Initial Program Structure
    Input and Convert the Encoded Public Key Bytes
    Input the Signature Bytes
    Verify the Signature
    Compile and Run the Program
Weaknesses and Alternatives
Implementing Your Own Permission
TerrysGame
The HighScore Class
The HighScorePermission Class
A Sample Policy File
Putting It All Together
    Steps for the HighScore Developer (Chris)
    Steps for the TerrysGame Developer (Terry)
    Steps for a User Running TerrysGame (Kim)
Summaries
Glossary
API Summary
    What Does the JDK Security API Provide?
    API Classes and Interfaces
Tools Summary
Security-related Files Summary

Trail: The Extension Mechanism

Creating and Using Extensions
Installed Extensions
Download Extensions
Understanding Extension Class Loading
Making Extensions Secure
Setting Privileges for Extensions
Sealing Packages in Extensions

Trail: The Reflection API

Examining Classes
Retrieving Class Objects
Getting the Class Name
Discovering Class Modifiers
Finding Superclasses
Identifying the Interfaces Implemented by a Class
Examining Interfaces
Identifying Class Fields
Discovering Class Constructors
Obtaining Method Information
Manipulating Objects
Creating Objects
    Using No-Argument Constructors
    Using Constructors that Have Arguments
Getting Field Values
Setting Field Values
Invoking Methods
Working with Arrays
Identifying Arrays
Retrieving Component Types
Creating Arrays
Getting and Setting Element Values
Summary of Classes

Trail: Putting It All Together

BINGO!
Traditional BINGO
A Brief Description of the BINGO Programs
Let's Play!
The Code
    The Primary Classes
        The Classes in the bingo.game Package
        The Classes in the bingo.player Package
        The Classes in the bingo.shared Package
What's Interesting?
    Design Decisions
    Using the JFC to Implement the UI's
    Synchronizing and Coordinating Threads
        Using Synchronized Code Segments
        Synchronizing Threads in the Player
        Coordinating Threads in the Game
    Communication Between the Game and the Player
        Broadcasting Game Information
        Handling Player Requests
    Signing and Verifying the BINGO Cards
    Writing a Custom EventQueue and Custom Events
    Managing Program Settings in the Player
    Other Interesting Tidbits
Exercises for the Reader

Trail: Custom Networking

Overview of Networking
What You May Already Know About Networking in Java
Networking Basics
Working with URLs
What Is a URL?
Creating a URL
Parsing a URL
Reading Directly from a URL
Connecting to a URL
Reading from and Writing to a URLConnection
All About Sockets
What Is a Socket?
Reading from and Writing to a Socket
Writing the Server Side of a Socket
All About Datagrams
What Is a Datagram?
Writing a Datagram Client and Server
Broadcasting to Multiple Recipients

Trail: Bonus

Generics
Introduction
Defining Simple Generics
Generics and Subtyping
Wildcards
Generic Methods
Interoperating with Legacy Code
The Fine Print
Class Literals as Runtime-Type Tokens
More Fun with Wildcards
Converting Legacy Code to Use Generics
Acknowledgements
Full-Screen Exclusive Mode API
Full-Screen Exclusive Mode
Display Mode
Passive vs. Active Rendering
Double Buffering and Page Flipping
BufferStrategy and BufferCapabilities
Examples
Regular Expressions
Introduction
Test Harness
String Literals
Character Classes
Predefined Character Classes
Quantifiers
Capturing Groups
Boundary Matchers
Methods of the Pattern Class
Methods of the Matcher Class
Methods of the PatternSyntaxException Class
Additional Resources

Trail: Drag and Drop