Chapter-5
Library Classes
Java as a totality is a combination of the Java language and its standard classes. The
class libraries provide much of the functionality that comes with Java. All the classes are
present in their respective packages like System, String, Math etc.,
set of packages that contains built-in classes that contains built-in methods
which provides support for actions such as string handling, input-output
operations etc., is known as the Application Programming Interface (API)
java.lang.*; This package contains the following classes.
System
String
Math
Wrapper classes (Byte, Short, Integer, Long, Float, Double, Boolean and Character)
Java.lang is called as the default package in java.
import java.util.*; This package contains the class Scanner
*Apart from the above, there are many other packages which are not included in the
scope of the syllabus like java.io etc.,
Let’s learn in detail about each of the above classes.
System: It belongs to the default package java.lang which has the following methods.
print ( ) - displays the text/values/result of any expression and the cursor
remains in the same line.
Example: System.out.print ("Output: ");
System.out.print (10+5);
Output: Output: 15
println ( ) - displays the text/values/result of any expression and the cursor
goes to the next line.
Example: System.out.println ("Output: ");
System.out.println (10+5);
Output: Output:
15
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Wrapper Classes: Each of Java's eight primitive data types has a class dedicated to it.
These are known as wrapper classes because they "wrap" the primitive data type into an
object of that class. The wrapper classes are part of the java.lang package, which is
imported by default into all Java programs.
The wrapper classes in java is used for two primary purposes.
To provide a mechanism to ‘wrap’ primitive values in an object so that primitives can
do activities reserved for the objects like being added to ArrayList, Hashset, HashMap
etc. collection.
To provide an assortment of utility functions for primitives like converting primitive
types to and from string objects, converting to various bases like binary, octal or
hexadecimal, or comparing various objects.
Below table lists wrapper classes
Primitive Wrapper Class
boolean Boolean
byte Byte
char Character
int Integer
float Float
double Double
long Long
short Short
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Creating a Wrapper Class Object:
int x=100; // primitive data type
Integer I=new Integer (x); // I is Integer object.
float a=10.5f;
Float f=new Float (a); // f is Float object.
Autoboxing : is the process by which primitive data type is automatically encapsulated
(boxed) into its equivalent type wrapper whenever an object that type is needed. There is
no need explicitly construct an object.
Eg: Integer x=100;
Auto –unboxing : is the process by which value of a boxed object is automatically
extracted (unboxed)from the type wrapper when its value is needed .
Eg: Integer x=100;
int a=x;
Wrapper Class Conversions:
Converting numerical string to a numerical value (int, long, float and double)
String s="145";
int c=Integer.parseInt (s); [OR] Integer.valueOf (s);
long d= Long.parseLong (s); [OR] Long.valueOf (s);
String a="14.5";
float f=Float.parseFloat (a); [OR] Float.valueOf (a);
double d=Double.parseDouble (a); Double.valueOf (a);
Converting a numerical value and char to Sring (int, long, float, double, char) to
String type
int c=30;
long d=40;
float e=1.2f;
double f=12.34;
char ch=’A’;
String c1=Integer.toString (c); [OR] String.valueOf (c);
String d1=Long.toString (d); [OR] String.valueOf (d);
String e1=Float.toString(e); [OR] String.valueOf (e);
String f1=Double.toString(f); [OR] String.valueOf (f);
String s=Charater.toString(ch); [OR] String.valueOf(ch);
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parseInt()method of Integer class which converts the string as number to int
data type.
parseLong()method of Long class which converts the string as number to long
data type.
parseFloat() method of Float class which converts the string as number to
float data type.
parseDouble()method of Double class which converts the string as number to
double data type.
The alternate method valueOf() can be used instead parseInt(), and
parseLong(),parseFloat() and parseDouble()
The method toString() converts a number to String form.
The alternate method valueOf() can be instead of toString()
Character class: This class wraps a char type value. It has methods which can be
implemented on char value to check it is uppercase, lowercase, etc.,
Character c=new Character ('a'); //c is the Character object.
Characher c=’a’; //Auto-boxing
Methods:
boolean isLetter (char) - Checks and returns true if the character is an alphabet,
otherwise false.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.isLetter('D')); // Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isLetter('a')); //Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isLetter('2'));// Output: false
System.out.println (Character.isLetter('$')); //Output:false
boolean isDigit (char) - Checks and returns true if the character is digit, otherwise
false.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.isDigit('1')); //Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isDigit('a')); // Output: false
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boolean isLetterOrDigit (char) - Checks and returns true if the character is
alphabet/digit, otherwise false.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.isLetterOrDigit('a')); //Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isLetterOrDigit('4')); //Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isLetterOrDigit('@')); //Output: false
boolean isWhitespace (char) - Checks and returns true if the character is
whitespace, otherwise false.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.isWhitespace(' '));//Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isWhitespace('\t'));//Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isWhitespace('\n'));//Output: true
boolean isUpperCase (char) - Checks and returns true if the character is upper case,
otherwise false.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.isUpperCase('A'));//Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isUpperCase('a'));//Output: false
boolean isLowerCase (char) - Checks and returns true if the character is lower case,
otherwise false.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.isLowerCase('a'));//Output: true
System.out.println (Character.isLowerCase('A'));//Output: false
char toUpperCase (char) - Converts the character from lowercase to uppercase.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.toUpperCase('a'));//Output: A
System.out.println (Character.toUpperCase('G'));//Output: G
char toLowerCase (char) - Converts the character from uppercase to lowercase.
Example:
System.out.println (Character.toLowerCase('A'));//Output: a
System.out.println (Character.toLowerCase('g'));//Output: g
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Note: All the inbuilt methods which are called by referring to classname are
defined as static/class mehods. The methods which are called/invoed using
objects are defined as non-static methods.
Example for static library methods:
Math.sqrt(4), Math.ceil (5.6), Character.isLetter('S'), Integer.toString(45), etc.,
Examples for non-static library methods:
sc.nextInt(), s.length(), s.charAt(int),…etc.,
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