Swing II - Absolute Java - page 1023

Display 18.2 A Window Listener (part 3 of 3)

R ESULTING GUI

This window is an object of
the class ConfirmWindow .

When you click this close-
window button, the second
window appears.

Are you sure you want to exit?

I like to be sure you are sincere.

The dispose Method
The method dispose is a method in the class JFrame that releases any resources used
by the JFrame or any of its components. So, a call to dispose eliminates the JFrame
and its components, but if the program has items that are not components of the
JFrame, then the program does not end. For example, in Display 18.2, the smaller
window of the class ConfirmWindow invokes dispose (if the user clicks the "No"
button). That causes that smaller window to go away, but the larger window remains.

dispose

The dispose Method
The class JFrame has a method named dispose that will eliminate the invoking JFrame
without ending the program. When dispose is invoked, the resources consumed by
the JFrame and its components are returned for reuse, so the JFrame is gone, but the
program does not end (unless dispose eliminates all elements in the program, as in a one-
window program). The method dispose is often used in a program with multiple windows
to eliminate one window without ending the program.
SYNTAX
JFrame_Object .dispose();
The JFrame_Object is often an implicit this . A complete example of using dispose can
be seen in Display 18.2.