Java Reference
In-Depth Information
filtering stream— See processing stream.
final— A Java reserved word that serves as a
modifier for classes, methods, and variables.
A final class cannot be used to derive a new
class. A final method cannot be overridden. A
final variable is a constant.
finalize— A Java method defined in the Object
class that can be overridden in any other class.
It is called after the object becomes a candi-
date for garbage collection and before it is
destroyed. It can be used to perform “clean-up”
activity that is not performed automatically by
the garbage collector.
finalizer method— A Java method, called final-
ize, that is called before an object is destroyed.
See also finalize.
finally— A Java reserved word that designates a
block of code to be executed when an exception
is thrown, after any appropriate catch handler
is processed.
first-in, first-out (FIFO)— A data management
technique in which the first value that is stored
in a data structure is the first value that comes
out. See also last-in, first-out; queue.
float— A Java reserved word that represents a
primitive floating point numeric type, stored
using 32 bits in IEEE 754 format.
flushing— The process of forcing the contents
of the output buffer to be displayed on the
output device.
font— See character font.
for— A Java reserved word that represents
a repetition construct. A for statement is
executed zero or more times and is usually
used when a precise number of iterations is
known.
foreground color— The color in which any cur-
rent drawing will be rendered. See also back-
ground color.
formal parameter— An identifier that serves as
a parameter name in a method. It receives its
initial value from the actual parameter passed
to it. See also actual parameter.
fourth-generation language— A high-level lan-
guage that provides built-in functionality such
as automatic report generation or database
management, beyond that of traditional high-
level languages.
function— A named group of declarations and
programming statements that can be invoked
(executed) when needed. A function that is part
of a class is called a method. Java has no func-
tions because all code is part of a class.
garbage— (1) An unspecified or uninitialized
value in a memory location. (2) An object that
cannot be accessed anymore because all refer-
ences to it have been lost.
garbage collection— The process of reclaim-
ing unneeded, dynamically allocated memory.
Java performs automatic garbage collection of
objects that no longer have any valid references
to them.
gigabyte (GB)— A unit of binary storage, equal
to 2 30 (approximately 1 billion) bytes.
goto— (1) A Java reserved word that is not cur-
rently used. (2) An unconditional branch.
grammar— A representation of language syntax
that specifies how reserved words, symbols,
and identifiers can be combined into valid
programs.
graph— A nonlinear data structure made up of
nodes and edges that connect the nodes. See
also digraph.
graphical user interface (GUI)— Software that
provides the means to interact with a program
or operating system by making use of graphical
images and point-and-click mechanisms, such
as buttons and text fields.
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