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By convention, Java programs are written entirely in lower case
characters with three exceptions.
-
The first letter of class names are capitalized to distinguish class
names from member names.
-
The names of constant fields are written entirely capital letters. For
example, the built-in Java class Integer includes the constant
static fields MIN_VALUE and MAX_VALUE.
-
The first letter in each word in a compound identifier after the first
are capitalized. For example, the built-in Java class Object includes
a method called toString() that we will discuss later. The
capital S signifies the beginning of a word within the compound
name toString().
These conventions are not enforced by Java compilers, but it is
considered bad style to violate them. A related convention is to
never use the special character $ in a name; this character is
reserved for the use of the Java compiler. Unfortunately, most Java
compilers do not enforce this convention.
Java relies on commenting conventions similar to those in C++. A
comment that is confined to a single line begins with the character
sequence // and ends at the end of the line. Longer comments
must be enclosed between the opening ``bracket'' /* and
``closing'' bracket star/. Examples of both form of comments
appear in Section 1.5.
Finger Exercise: add both forms of comment to the Conversions class from the preceding exercise.
Next: 1.3 Java Data Types
Up: 1.2 Java Mechanics
Previous: 1.2.8 Defining Static Methods
Corky Cartwright
2000-01-07