How This Book Is Organized

Java For Dummies Quick Reference is divided into five parts. You don’t have to read these parts sequentially, and you don’t even have to read all the sections in any particular part. You can use the Table of Contents and the index to find the information you need and quickly get your answer. In this section, I briefly describe what you find in each part.

Part 1: Java Language Tools

This part shows you how to use Java command-line tools to compile and run Java programs.

Part 2: Java Language Basics

This part provides a complete reference for the elements of the Java programming language, including its data types, keywords, statements, operators, and so on. If you have trouble remembering the syntax of the switch statement or the difference between float and double, turn to this part.

Part 3: Basic Java Classes

In this part, you find reference information for many of the most commonly used Java classes. You find information about collection classes, such as the ArrayList and LinkedList, the Math class, and the Exception class. And you find reference information about working with regular expressions.

Part 4: File and Network I/O

This part presents reference information for file and network I/O classes. You find a wealth of information about classes that work with streams, classes that work with files and directories, and classes that work with IP addresses and network sockets.

Part 5: Swing

In this part, you find information useful when using Swing to create applications that use a graphical user interface. Documented here are the most common classes for creating frames, panels, and controls, adorning them with gizmos such as borders and scroll bars, and handling events generated as users interact your application.