Let's say I have Main class, and it has an instance of class A.
How can I call a method in Main class within class A ?
Thanks!
This is called Composition...Where a class has a Reference of other class...
Composition is preferred over Inheritance when we need one or few functionalities But Not all the functionalities of a class.
Eg:
public class A{
Main m = new M(); // m is a Object Reference Variable of type Main in class A
m.go(); // go() is a method in class Main
}
If it is an instance method, then you need an instance of M inside A to call M's method inside A. If it is a static method, you can just call it directly. But you're holding circular references so beware.
Main.methodName() for a static method.
Though it sounds to me like what you're trying to do may be bad practice. Your Main method or class should simply be an entry point
To call a method in Main class from calss A you need an instance of Main class within the class A(considering them in same package) if both the calsses have no relation like inheritance.if static then you may call Main.methodName();
If the method is a static method (i.e. was declared with "public static ReturnType methodName()") then in the A class, you need to call Main.methodName().
However, if the method is an instance method (declared as "public ReturnType methodName()") then you need to somehow pass an instance of Main into the instance of A (perhaps through the constructor, or a setter method). Inside the A class, you could then call instanceOfMain.methodName().
However (as some people have already mentioned) this is probably not the best way to handle things. The Main class should simply be where the program starts; it is not where you should be doing any real program logic.
Related
I was just reading over the text given to me in my textbook and I'm not really sure I understand what it is saying. It's basically telling me that static methods or class methods include the "modifier" keyword static. But I don't really know what that means?
Could someone please explain to me in really simple terms what Static or Class Methods are?
Also, could I get a simple explanation on what Instance methods are?
This is what they give me in the textbook:
There are important practical implications of the presence or absence of the static modifier. A public class method may be invoked and executed as soon as Java processes the definition of the class to which it belongs. That is not the case for an instance method. Before a public instance method may be invoked and executed, an instance must be created of the class to which it belongs. To use a public class method, you just need the class. On the other hand, before you can use a public instance method you must have an instance of the class.
The manner in which a static method is invoked within the definition of another method varies according to whether or not the two methods belong to the same class. In the example above, factorial and main are both methods of the MainClass class. As a result, the invocation of factorial in the definition of main simply references the method name, "factorial".
The basic paradigm in Java is that you write classes, and that those classes are instantiated. Instantiated objects (an instance of a class) have attributes associated with them (member variables) that affect their behavior; when the instance has its method executed it will refer to these variables.
However, all objects of a particular type might have behavior that is not dependent at all on member variables; these methods are best made static. By being static, no instance of the class is required to run the method.
You can do this to execute a static method:
MyClass.staticMethod(); // Simply refers to the class's static code
But to execute a non-static method, you must do this:
MyClass obj = new MyClass(); //Create an instance
obj.nonstaticMethod(); // Refer to the instance's class's code
On a deeper level the compiler, when it puts a class together, collects pointers to methods and attaches them to the class. When those methods are executed it follows the pointers and executes the code at the far end. If a class is instantiated, the created object contains a pointer to the "virtual method table", which points to the methods to be called for that particular class in the inheritance hierarchy. However, if the method is static, no "virtual method table" is needed: all calls to that method go to the exact same place in memory to execute the exact same code. For that reason, in high-performance systems it's better to use a static method if you are not reliant on instance variables.
Methods and variables that are not declared as static are known as instance methods and instance variables. To refer to instance methods and variables, you must instantiate the class first means you should create an object of that class first.For static you don't need to instantiate the class u can access the methods and variables with the class name using period sign which is in (.)
for example:
Person.staticMethod(); //accessing static method.
for non-static method you must instantiate the class.
Person person1 = new Person(); //instantiating
person1.nonStaticMethod(); //accessing non-static method.
Difference between Static methods and Instance methods
Instance method are methods which require an object of its class to be created before it can be called. Static methods are the methods in Java that can be called without creating an object of class.
Static method is declared with static keyword. Instance method is not with static keyword.
Static method means which will exist as a single copy for a class. But instance methods exist as multiple copies depending on the number of instances created for that class.
Static methods can be invoked by using class reference. Instance or non static methods are invoked by using object reference.
Static methods can’t access instance methods and instance variables directly. Instance method can access static variables and static methods directly.
Reference : geeksforgeeks
Static methods, variables belongs to the whole class, not just an object instance. A static method, variable is associated with the class as a whole rather than with specific instances of a class. Each object will share a common copy of the static methods, variables. There is only one copy per class, no matter how many objects are created from it.
Instance methods => invoked on specific instance of a specific class. Method wants to know upon which class it was invoked. The way it happens there is a invisible parameter called 'this'. Inside of 'this' we have members of instance class already set with values. 'This' is not a variable. It's a value, you cannot change it and the value is reference to the receiver of the call.
Ex: You call repairmen(instance method) to fix your TV(actual program). He comes with tools('this' parameter). He comes with specific tools needed for fixing TV and he can fix other things also.
In static methods => there is no such thing as 'this'.
Ex: The same repairman (static method). When you call him you have to specify which repairman to call(like electrician). And he will come and fix your TV only. But, he doesn't have tools to fix other things (there is no 'this' parameter).
Static methods are usually useful for operations that don't require any data from an instance of the class (from 'this') and can perform their intended purpose solely using their arguments.
In short, static methods and static variables are class level where as instance methods and instance variables are instance or object level.
This means whenever a instance or object (using new ClassName()) is created, this object will retain its own copy of instace variables. If you have five different objects of same class, you will have five different copies of the instance variables. But the static variables and methods will be the same for all those five objects. If you need something common to be used by each object created make it static. If you need a method which won't need object specific data to work, make it static. The static method will only work with static variable or will return data on the basis of passed arguments.
class A {
int a;
int b;
public void setParameters(int a, int b){
this.a = a;
this.b = b;
}
public int add(){
return this.a + this.b;
}
public static returnSum(int s1, int s2){
return (s1 + s2);
}
}
In the above example, when you call add() as:
A objA = new A();
objA.setParameters(1,2); //since it is instance method, call it using object
objA.add(); // returns 3
B objB = new B();
objB.setParameters(3,2);
objB.add(); // returns 5
//calling static method
// since it is a class level method, you can call it using class itself
A.returnSum(4,6); //returns 10
class B{
int s=8;
int t = 8;
public addition(int s,int t){
A.returnSum(s,t);//returns 16
}
}
In first class, add() will return the sum of data passed by a specific object. But the static method can be used to get the sum from any class not independent if any specific instance or object. Hence, for generic methods which only need arguments to work can be made static to keep it all DRY.
If state of a method is not supposed to be changed or its not going to use any instance variables.
You want to call method without instance.
If it only works on arguments provided to it.
Utility functions are good instance of static methods. i.e math.pow(), this function is not going to change the state for different values. So it is static.
The behavior of an object depends on the variables and the methods of that class. When we create a class we create an object for it. For static methods, we don't require them as static methods means all the objects will have the same copy so there is no need of an object.
e.g:
Myclass.get();
In instance method each object will have different behaviour so they have to call the method using the object instance.
e.g:
Myclass x = new Myclass();
x.get();
Static Methods vs Instance methods
Constructor:
const Person = function (birthYear) {
this.birthYear = birthYear;
}
Instance Method -> Available
Person.prototype.calcAge = function () {
2037 - this.birthYear);
}
Static Method -> Not available
Person.hey = function(){
console.log('Hey')
}
Class:
class PersonCl {
constructor(birthYear) {
this.birthYear = birthYear;
}
/**
* Instance Method -> Available to instances
*/
calcAge() {
console.log(2037 - this.birthYear);
}
/**
* Static method -> Not available to instances
*/
static hey() {
console.log('Static HEY ! ');
}
}
The static modifier when placed in front of a function implies that only one copy of that function exists. If the static modifier is not placed in front of the function then with every object or instance of that class a new copy of that function is made. :)
Same is the case with variables.
I have a line of code like this:
ConfiguationManagerUtils.class.getResource(resourceName);
I don't understand why reflection is used here. What is the difference between calling it like a static class method:
ConfiguationManagerUtils.getResource(resourceName);
It's not using reflection at all. The getResource(String) method called in your first snippet simply isn't declared on ConfigurationManagerUtils - it's declared on the Class class, as an instance method. If the second code snippet works as well, that's because there's a static getResource(String) method declared in ConfigurationManagerUtils (or a superclass). That may well do something entirely different to Class.getResource().
The first snippet is just using a class literal (ConfigurationManagerUtils.class) to obtain a reference to a Class instance on which it can call the getResource(String) instance method.
In this code you call a non-static method of object Class referring to your ConfiguationManagerUtils class:
ConfiguationManagerUtils.class.getResource(resourceName);
In this code you call a static method of your ConfiguationManagerUtils class.
ConfiguationManagerUtils.getResource(resourceName);
This isn't using reflection, you're just accessing the class attribute of ConfiguationManagerUtils.
There is a BIG difference between the 2 calls.
ConfiguationManagerUtils.class.getResource(resourceName);
the method getResource() of the class-object of ConfiguationManagerUtils is called. Not the one you define inside the class ConfiguationManagerUtils.
ConfiguationManagerUtils.getResource(resourceName);
The methode from the class ConfiguationManagerUtils is called. i.e,
the method is defined in the code inside class
ConfiguationManagerUtils.
So I am calling a method defined in the main method of the same class. I am referencing the callable method using 'this' keyword. Why cannot I call this non-static method, as shown below, in static main method?
Relevant but a little different question, by choice of design, would it make sense to construct a separate class for implementing logic. Essentially, main class should only have a main method to keep things simple. Any ideas will be appreciated.
UniqueChars.java:8: non-static variable this cannot be referenced from a static context
System.out.println(this.hasAllUniqueChars(input));
^
1 error
public class UniqueChars {
boolean hasAllUniqueChars(String input) {
return false;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
String input = "Harry";
System.out.println(this.hasAllUniqueChars(input));
}
}
Because this is non-static. this is an instance, and you cannot reference instance variables within a static method since static means "one for the entire class."
You should make the hasAllUniqueChars method static (like static boolean hasAllUniqueChars(String input)), so you could do
System.out.println(UniqueChars.hasAllUniqueChars(input));
Or just (since you're already in the class)
System.out.println(hasAllUniqueChars(input));
You could also keep it non-static, and do this:
UniqueChars uc = new UniqueChars();
System.out.println(uc.hasAllUniqueChars(input));
You can only use "this" within an instance of an object.
So you either need to make a UniqueChars object, or you need to make hasAllUniqueChars static
Because there's no this in a static method, because this refers to the current instance (e.g., an instantiated object of that class).
There's no instance for static methods: that's why they're called static methods. They live at the class level, and are not associated with any instance.
You should either (a) create an instance and call the instance method on it, or (b) make the method static and don't bother. If the class doesn't need any instance-specific state, might as well make it static, e.g., a utility method.
Use this code:
System.out.println(new UniqueChars().hasAllUniqueChars(input));
Method hasAllUniqueChars is not static. To make it static you have to put static before name boolean like static boolean hasAllUniqueChars. Static methods don't need instances to be able to call them. So you would call it as UniqueChars.hasAllUniqueChars().
if you don't want method to be static then you would need to create new instance of UniqueChars class and then call it. new UniqueChars().hasAllUniqueChars() as others have pointed out.
Either construct an instance of the class that has the main method (possibly in main() itself), and invoke the method on it.
System.out.println(new UniqueChars().hasAllUniqueChars(input));
Or make hasAllUniqueChars() a static method.
Within an instance method or a constructor, this is a reference to the current object, which is non-static. You can't use non-static instance to static method.
I was just reading over the text given to me in my textbook and I'm not really sure I understand what it is saying. It's basically telling me that static methods or class methods include the "modifier" keyword static. But I don't really know what that means?
Could someone please explain to me in really simple terms what Static or Class Methods are?
Also, could I get a simple explanation on what Instance methods are?
This is what they give me in the textbook:
There are important practical implications of the presence or absence of the static modifier. A public class method may be invoked and executed as soon as Java processes the definition of the class to which it belongs. That is not the case for an instance method. Before a public instance method may be invoked and executed, an instance must be created of the class to which it belongs. To use a public class method, you just need the class. On the other hand, before you can use a public instance method you must have an instance of the class.
The manner in which a static method is invoked within the definition of another method varies according to whether or not the two methods belong to the same class. In the example above, factorial and main are both methods of the MainClass class. As a result, the invocation of factorial in the definition of main simply references the method name, "factorial".
The basic paradigm in Java is that you write classes, and that those classes are instantiated. Instantiated objects (an instance of a class) have attributes associated with them (member variables) that affect their behavior; when the instance has its method executed it will refer to these variables.
However, all objects of a particular type might have behavior that is not dependent at all on member variables; these methods are best made static. By being static, no instance of the class is required to run the method.
You can do this to execute a static method:
MyClass.staticMethod(); // Simply refers to the class's static code
But to execute a non-static method, you must do this:
MyClass obj = new MyClass(); //Create an instance
obj.nonstaticMethod(); // Refer to the instance's class's code
On a deeper level the compiler, when it puts a class together, collects pointers to methods and attaches them to the class. When those methods are executed it follows the pointers and executes the code at the far end. If a class is instantiated, the created object contains a pointer to the "virtual method table", which points to the methods to be called for that particular class in the inheritance hierarchy. However, if the method is static, no "virtual method table" is needed: all calls to that method go to the exact same place in memory to execute the exact same code. For that reason, in high-performance systems it's better to use a static method if you are not reliant on instance variables.
Methods and variables that are not declared as static are known as instance methods and instance variables. To refer to instance methods and variables, you must instantiate the class first means you should create an object of that class first.For static you don't need to instantiate the class u can access the methods and variables with the class name using period sign which is in (.)
for example:
Person.staticMethod(); //accessing static method.
for non-static method you must instantiate the class.
Person person1 = new Person(); //instantiating
person1.nonStaticMethod(); //accessing non-static method.
Difference between Static methods and Instance methods
Instance method are methods which require an object of its class to be created before it can be called. Static methods are the methods in Java that can be called without creating an object of class.
Static method is declared with static keyword. Instance method is not with static keyword.
Static method means which will exist as a single copy for a class. But instance methods exist as multiple copies depending on the number of instances created for that class.
Static methods can be invoked by using class reference. Instance or non static methods are invoked by using object reference.
Static methods can’t access instance methods and instance variables directly. Instance method can access static variables and static methods directly.
Reference : geeksforgeeks
Static methods, variables belongs to the whole class, not just an object instance. A static method, variable is associated with the class as a whole rather than with specific instances of a class. Each object will share a common copy of the static methods, variables. There is only one copy per class, no matter how many objects are created from it.
Instance methods => invoked on specific instance of a specific class. Method wants to know upon which class it was invoked. The way it happens there is a invisible parameter called 'this'. Inside of 'this' we have members of instance class already set with values. 'This' is not a variable. It's a value, you cannot change it and the value is reference to the receiver of the call.
Ex: You call repairmen(instance method) to fix your TV(actual program). He comes with tools('this' parameter). He comes with specific tools needed for fixing TV and he can fix other things also.
In static methods => there is no such thing as 'this'.
Ex: The same repairman (static method). When you call him you have to specify which repairman to call(like electrician). And he will come and fix your TV only. But, he doesn't have tools to fix other things (there is no 'this' parameter).
Static methods are usually useful for operations that don't require any data from an instance of the class (from 'this') and can perform their intended purpose solely using their arguments.
In short, static methods and static variables are class level where as instance methods and instance variables are instance or object level.
This means whenever a instance or object (using new ClassName()) is created, this object will retain its own copy of instace variables. If you have five different objects of same class, you will have five different copies of the instance variables. But the static variables and methods will be the same for all those five objects. If you need something common to be used by each object created make it static. If you need a method which won't need object specific data to work, make it static. The static method will only work with static variable or will return data on the basis of passed arguments.
class A {
int a;
int b;
public void setParameters(int a, int b){
this.a = a;
this.b = b;
}
public int add(){
return this.a + this.b;
}
public static returnSum(int s1, int s2){
return (s1 + s2);
}
}
In the above example, when you call add() as:
A objA = new A();
objA.setParameters(1,2); //since it is instance method, call it using object
objA.add(); // returns 3
B objB = new B();
objB.setParameters(3,2);
objB.add(); // returns 5
//calling static method
// since it is a class level method, you can call it using class itself
A.returnSum(4,6); //returns 10
class B{
int s=8;
int t = 8;
public addition(int s,int t){
A.returnSum(s,t);//returns 16
}
}
In first class, add() will return the sum of data passed by a specific object. But the static method can be used to get the sum from any class not independent if any specific instance or object. Hence, for generic methods which only need arguments to work can be made static to keep it all DRY.
If state of a method is not supposed to be changed or its not going to use any instance variables.
You want to call method without instance.
If it only works on arguments provided to it.
Utility functions are good instance of static methods. i.e math.pow(), this function is not going to change the state for different values. So it is static.
The behavior of an object depends on the variables and the methods of that class. When we create a class we create an object for it. For static methods, we don't require them as static methods means all the objects will have the same copy so there is no need of an object.
e.g:
Myclass.get();
In instance method each object will have different behaviour so they have to call the method using the object instance.
e.g:
Myclass x = new Myclass();
x.get();
Static Methods vs Instance methods
Constructor:
const Person = function (birthYear) {
this.birthYear = birthYear;
}
Instance Method -> Available
Person.prototype.calcAge = function () {
2037 - this.birthYear);
}
Static Method -> Not available
Person.hey = function(){
console.log('Hey')
}
Class:
class PersonCl {
constructor(birthYear) {
this.birthYear = birthYear;
}
/**
* Instance Method -> Available to instances
*/
calcAge() {
console.log(2037 - this.birthYear);
}
/**
* Static method -> Not available to instances
*/
static hey() {
console.log('Static HEY ! ');
}
}
The static modifier when placed in front of a function implies that only one copy of that function exists. If the static modifier is not placed in front of the function then with every object or instance of that class a new copy of that function is made. :)
Same is the case with variables.
Many articles say objects get created only after the class's constructor gets called. But I found this snippet and it works fine.
public class A {
public A(){
this.foo();//line #1
}
private void foo() {
System.out.print("without an instance..!!!!");
}
}
class B extends A
{
public static void main(String[] args){
A a = new A(); //line #2
}
}
Here you see, I'm trying to create an object of its super class in line #2 and in its constructor how come its method got called without an instance. What's going on here, is Constructer of instance of A is getting called here.?
The constructor is always called when an object is created. Even if you don't explicitly define a constructor, the compiler will generate one for you with an empty body.
You may call other methods of the class from the constructor. All non-static methods get an implicit (compiler generated) parameter to this, the actual class instance. However, it is important to know that while executing the constructor, the object is not yet fully created, although all data members of the class in question (if there are such) have already been initialized, at least to some default value. Because of this, you
should not publish this (i.e. pass it to other objects / threads) before exiting the constructor call, and
you should not call non-final, non-private methods from the constructor.
Doing either of these (in a non-final class) means that you give access to an object not yet fully constructed, which may result in subtle, hard to find bugs later. E.g. if the virtual method in question is overridden in a subclass and the implementation depends on some member defined and initialized only in the subclass constructor, the method gets called before the subclass member is correctly initialized, thus it won't have the value you would expect.
Because public static void main is the entry point of the programm. So you do not require to create instance of the class B.
The method signature for the main() method contains three modifiers:
* public indicates that the main() method can be called by any object.
* static indicates that the main() method is a class method.
* void indicates that the main() method has no return value.
Read more : Understanding public static void main function
So that Constructor of A is get called when the programm get executed and that it calls the foo method of the super class A.
It's not called without an instance.
You call it on this - that's an instance.
The constructor of A is getting called because you called it directly. However, if you wished to call A through B, within Main [which is called without a current instance of the containing class B (1 because its static, and 2. its reserved for the beginning of the application)] you would just change the "new A()" to "new B()"
Since you're using a constructor with no parameters, a default constructor in automatically generated at compile time.
Whether main() is the entry point or not is not the explanation. The reason is that main() is static, therefore doesn't require an instance of its class.
No instance of B is ever created by this program.
class A is public, and its inherited by class B. class B can instantiate class A, with
A object=new A()
and the object initialization is done by Constructor method defined automatically. Constructor of A in turn calls method foo(), which is private to class A. As far as i know, to call a method from a class which is in the same class scope, no instance is needed.