class BoxDemo3 {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Box mybox1 = new Box();
Box mybox2 = new Box();
// assign values to mybox1's instance variables
mybox1.width = 10;
mybox1.height = 20;
mybox1.depth = 15;
/* assign different values to mybox2's
instance variables */
mybox2.width = 3;
mybox2.height = 6;
mybox2.depth = 9;
// display volume of first box
mybox1.volume();
// display volume of second box
mybox2.volume();
}
}
This program generates the following output, which is the same as the previous version.
Volume is 3000.0
Volume is 162.0
Look closely at the following two lines of code:
mybox1.volume();
mybox2.volume();
The first line here invokes the volume( ) method on mybox1. That is, it calls volume( )
relative to the mybox1 object, using the object's name followed by the dot operator. Thus,
the call to mybox1.volume( ) displays the volume of the box defined by mybox1, and the
call to mybox2.volume( ) displays the volume of the box defined by mybox2. Each time
volume( ) is invoked, it displays the volume for the specified box.
If you are unfamiliar with the concept of calling a method, the following discussion will
help clear things up. When mybox1.volume( ) is executed, the Java run-time system transfers
control to the code defined inside volume( ). After the statements inside volume( ) have
executed, control is returned to the calling routine, and execution resumes with the line of
code following the call. In the most general sense, a method is Java's way of implementing
subroutines.
There is something very important to notice inside the volume( ) method: the instance
variables width, height, and depth are referred to directly, without preceding them with an
object name or the dot operator. When a method uses an instance variable that is defined by
its class, it does so directly, without explicit reference to an object and without use of the dot
operator. This is easy to understand if you think about it. A method is always invoked relative
to some object of its class. Once this invocation has occurred, the object is known. Thus, within
Search WWH :
