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The Java Language Specification

This document is a preliminary specification of the JavaTM language. Both the specification and the language are subject to change. When a feature that exists in both Java and ANSI C isn't explained fully in this specification, the feature should be assumed to work as it does in ANSI C. Send comments on the Java Language and specification to java@java.Sun.COM. See also http://java.sun.com/mail.html for a list of Java-related mailing lists.

Table of Contents

1 - Program Structure

2 - Lexical Issues

2.1 - Comments
2.2 - Identifiers
2.3 - Keywords
2.4 - Literals
2.4.1 - Integer Literals
2.4.2 - Floating Point Literals
2.4.3 - Boolean Literals
2.4.4 - Character Literals
2.4.5 - String Literals
2.5 - Operators and Miscellaneous Separators

3.1 - Numeric Types
3.1.1 - Integer Types
3.1.2 - Floating Point Types
3.1.3 - Character Types
3.2 - Boolean Types
3.3 - Arrays
3.3.1 - Array Detail

4 - Classes

4.1 - Casting Between Class Types
4.2 - Methods
4.2.1 - Instance Variables
4.2.2 - The this and super Variables
4.2.3 - Setting Local Variables
4.3 - Overriding Methods
4.4 - Overload Resolution
4.5 - Constructors
4.6 - Object Creation--the new Operator
4.6.1 - Garbage Collection
4.6.2 - Finalization
4.6.3 - The null Reference
4.7 - Static Methods, Variables, and Initializers
4.7.1 - Order of Declarations
4.7.2 - Order of Initialization
4.8 - Access Specifiers
4.9 - Variable Scoping Rules
4.10 - Modifiers
4.10.1 - Threadsafe Variables
4.10.2 - Transient Variables
4.10.3 - Final Classes, Methods, and Variables
4.10.4 - Native Methods
4.10.5 - Abstract Methods
4.10.6 - Synchronized Methods and Blocks

5 - Interfaces

5.1 - Interfaces as Types
5.2 - Methods in Interfaces
5.3 - Variables in Interfaces
5.4 - Combining Interfaces

6 - Packages

6.1 - Specifying a Compilation Unit's Package
6.2 - Using Classes and Interfaces from Other Packages

7 - Expressions

7.1 - Operators
7.1.1 - Operators on Integers
7.1.2 - Operators on Boolean Values
7.1.3 - Operators on Floating Point Values
7.1.4 - Operators on Arrays
7.1.5 - Operators on Strings
7.1.6 - Operators on Objects
7.2 - Casts and Conversions

8 - Statements

8.1 - Declarations
8.2 - Expressions
8.3 - Control Flow
8.4 - Exceptions
8.4.1 - The finally Statement
8.4.2 - Runtime Exceptions

A - Appendix: Floating Point

A.1 - Special Values
A.2 - Binary Format Conversion
A.3 - Ordering
A.4 - Summary of IEEE-754 Differences

B - Appendix: Java Language Grammar

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