Java Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER
19
JavaBeans
JavaBeans are software components for the Java programming language. In
this chapter, I will discuss what JavaBeans are, how they are written, and how
they are used. Topics discussed include an overview of JavaBeans, simple,
bound, and constrained properties, events, the Bean Builder tool, and long-
term persistence of beans.
Overview of JavaBeans
The JavaBeans components API defines a mechanism for writing software com-
ponents in Java. A
software component
is a reusable piece of software that is hooked
together with other components, creating an application or new component.
The concept of software components is not unique to Java. You may have
heard of ActiveX components, which are software components for developing
Windows applications. The goal of software components is to simplify and
accelerate application development. Instead of writing a program by develop-
ing all new code from scratch, you develop a program by hooking together
existing components in your own unique way.
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