Java Fundamentals

Get an overview of the course structure, objectives, key topics, and expectations to prepare for a successful learning journey.

Discover the Java platform, its components (JVM, JRE, JDK), and how Java code is compiled and run on any OS, including new Java 25 compact source file features.

Set up Java in Udacity Workspace, verify the environment, and write interactive Java programs with input, output, string variables, and terminal workflows using VSCode.

Learn how to declare, initialize, and use variables of different Java data types, handle type conversions, constants, variable scope, and follow naming conventions.

Practice declaring and using Java variables and data types, parsing input, mixing int and double, using constants, and avoiding integer division errors in real programs.

Learn to use operators and control flow in Java, including if-else, switch, loops, break, and continue, to write dynamic, responsive programs that make decisions and repeat tasks.

Apply Java control flow structures (while loops, switch, if-else, for, continue) to build real programs: a grade classifier and a menu-driven smart calculator with input validation.

Explore Java classes, objects, constructors, methods, and encapsulation. Learn to design your own types, use access modifiers, and build robust, object-oriented code.

Learn to create Java classes in their own files, use constructors and methods, apply overloading and delegation, and manage object state for robust, reusable applications.

Learn the core principles of OOP, especially encapsulation, using private fields, public methods, getters, setters, validation, and composition for maintainable Java classes.

Practice Java encapsulation by hiding fields, creating validating getters/setters, delegating constructors, using boolean getter conventions, and linking objects via composition.

Learn how Java inheritance and interfaces enable code reuse, abstraction, and polymorphism, and when to use extends, implements, or composition for clean, flexible designs.

Learn how to implement inheritance, interfaces, and polymorphism in Java, using real-world class hierarchies, abstract classes, interfaces, and pattern matching instanceof.

Explore Java's Collections Framework: understand List, Set, and Map, their core implementations, and how to choose the best collection type for different programming needs.

Master Java Collections by using List, Set, and Map to efficiently manage ordered items, unique elements, and key-value pairs in real applications.

Discover Java generics to write reusable, type-safe code. Learn generic classes, methods, bounded type parameters, wildcards, and the PECS principle for safe flexibility.

Learn to create type-safe, reusable Java classes and collections using generics, including bounded type parameters, the diamond operator, and nested generics with practical exercises.

Learn Java exception handling: organize errors, catch and throw exceptions, create custom types, and manage resources with try-catch, finally, and try-with-resources.

Learn to use Java's try-catch, multi-catch, custom checked exceptions, and try-with-resources to build robust, error-tolerant programs with reliable resource cleanup.

Learn to effectively process strings and date/time in Java: understand immutability, use StringBuilder and java.time API, and apply key methods for transformation and formatting.

Master Java string manipulation and date/time handling with StringBuilder, substring, LocalDate, DateTimeFormatter, ChronoUnit, and .formatted() for real-world validation and formatting tasks.