Java Classes and Objects

Vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts from Java Classes and Objects.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

A style of programming where programmers create and utilize objects defined using user-customized data types.

Class

A programmer-defined data type composed of attributes and methods that define its state and behavior.

Object

A specific instance of a class created via the new operator, also known as instantiation.

Attributes

Properties or fields of a class that define its state, containing primitive data types or references to other objects.

Methods

Functions defined in a class to access, modify, or process its attributes.

Accessors (Getters)

Methods that return the value of an attribute.

Mutators (Setters)

Methods that set the value of a particular attribute without returning a value.

Constructor

A special method used to create instances of a class.

Encapsulation

A principle where internal components of a class are hidden from external classes, accessed only via getter/setter methods.

Instantiation

The process of creating a specific instance of a class.

Association relationship

A 'has-a' relationship implying that one object contains or references another.

Inheritance relationship

An 'is-a' relationship implying that one class derives from another.

Static variable

A class variable shared by all instances of the class.

Immutable object

An object that cannot change once it is constructed.

Final variable

A variable that cannot be changed once it has been initialized.

Garbage Collector

A part of Java that automatically frees up memory by destroying objects that are no longer referenced.

Object Relationships

Concepts defining how objects relate to one another, such as is-a or has-a relationships.