
Java2 Certification Tutorial

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4) Language Fundamentals

Objective 3)

Identify all Java programming language keywords.

Note on this objective: You may like to approach this objective on the basis of learning the less frequently used key words and ensuring you do not carry over any "false friends" from other languages you may know, particularly C/C++. The exam places significant emphasis on recognising keywords

You will come to recognise most of the Java keywords through using the language, but there are rarely used exceptions, and reserved words that might come up in the exam.

Examples of the more rarely used words (certainly for a beginner anyway) are

volatile
transient
native

**Java Keywords**
abstract	boolean	break	byte	case	catch
char	class	`const` *	continue	default	do
double	else	extends	final	finally	float
for	`goto` *	if	implements	import	instanceof
int	interface	long	native	new	null
package	private	protected	public	return	short
static	super	switch	synchronized	this	throw
throws	transient	try	void	volatile	while

The words with asterisks are reserved and not currently used. Note that all of the keywords are in lowercase, thus for is a keyword but FOR is not. There is some debate as to if null is a keyword but I suggest that for the purposes of the exam you assume it is.

Question 1)

Which of the following are Java key words?

1) double
2) Switch
3) then
4) instanceof

Question 2)

Which of the following are not Java keywords?

1)volatile
2)sizeOf
3)goto
4)try

Answers

Answer 1)

1) double
4) instanceof

Note the upper case S on switch means it is not a keyword and the word then is part of Visual Basic but not Java

Answer 2)

2) sizeOf

This is a keyword in C/C++ for determining the size of a primitive for a particular platform. Because primitives have the same size on all platforms in Java this keyword is not needed.

**Other sources on this topic**
This topic is covered in the Sun Tutorial at http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/html/3.doc.html#229308 http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/java/nutsandbolts/_keywords.html Michael Thomas http://www.michael-thomas.com/java/JCP_Keywords.htm

Java2 Certification Tutorial