Getting Started - Absolute Java - page 47

For example, the names BRANCH_COUNT and WINDOW_COUNT can be given values that
cannot be changed by your code as follows:

public static final int BRANCH_COUNT = 10;
public static final int WINDOW_COUNT = 10;
Constants defined this way must be placed outside of the main method and, when we
start having more methods, outside of any other methods. This is illustrated in Display 1.8.
When we start writing programs and classes with multiple methods, you will see that
the defined constants can be used in all the methods of a class. However, if a constant is
only going to be used inside a single method, then it can be defined inside the method
without the keyword public .

Display 1.8 Comments and a Named Constant

1 /**
2 Program to show interest on a sample account balance.
3 Author: Jane Q. Programmer.
4 E-mail Address: [e-mail].
5 Last Changed: September 21, 2004.
6 */
7 public class ShowInterest
8 {
9 public static final double INTEREST_RATE = 2.5;

10
11 public static void main(String[] args)
12 {
13 double balance = 100;

14 double interest; //as a percent

15
16 interest = balance * (INTEREST_RATE / 100.0);
17 System.out.println("On a balance of $" + balance);
18 System.out.println("you will earn interest of $"
19 + interest);
20 System.out.println("All in just one short year.");
21 }
22
23 }

Although it would not be as clear,
it is legal to place the definition of
INTEREST_RATE here instead.

Sample Dialogue

On a balance of $100.0
you will earn interest of $2.5
All in just one short year.