contents

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foreword
preface
acknowledgments
about this book
about the authors
about the cover illustration

Introduction

Disclaimer

Introduction to OCA Java SE 7 Programmer certification

FAQs

The testing engine used in the exam

Chapter 1 Java basics

The structure of a Java class and source code file

Executable Java applications

Java packages

Java access modifiers

Nonaccess modifiers

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 2 Working with Java data types

Primitive variables

Identifiers

Object reference variables

Operators

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 3 Methods and encapsulation

Scope of variables

Object’s life cycle

Create methods with arguments and return values

Create an overloaded method

Constructors of a class

Accessing object fields

Apply encapsulation principles to a class

Passing objects and primitives to methods

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 4 String, StringBuilder, Arrays, and ArrayList

Welcome to the world of the String class

Mutable strings: StringBuilder

Arrays

ArrayList

Comparing objects for equality

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 5 Flow control

The if and if-else constructs

The switch statement

The for loop

The enhanced for loop

The while and do-while loops

Comparing loop constructs

Loop statements: break and continue

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 6 Working with inheritance

Inheritance with classes

Use interfaces

Reference variable and object types

Casting

Use this and super to access objects and constructors

Polymorphism

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 7 Exception handling

Exceptions in Java

What happens when an exception is thrown?

Categories of exceptions

Common exception classes and categories

Summary

Review notes

Sample exam questions

Answers to sample exam questions

Chapter 8 Full mock exam

Mock exam

Answers to mock exam questions

appendix Answers to Twist in the Tale exercises

          index