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Data Structures

The document provides an overview of data structures, specifically focusing on arrays in Java, which are homogeneous and allow indexed access to data. It also explains the concepts of constructors and destructors in Java, including their roles in object initialization and memory management. Additionally, it discusses the finalize() method for resource management and the use of the 'this' keyword in method definitions.

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Victor Oigara Onwong'a
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0 views5 pages

Data Structures

The document provides an overview of data structures, specifically focusing on arrays in Java, which are homogeneous and allow indexed access to data. It also explains the concepts of constructors and destructors in Java, including their roles in object initialization and memory management. Additionally, it discusses the finalize() method for resource management and the use of the 'this' keyword in method definitions.

Uploaded by

Victor Oigara Onwong'a
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data structures

A data structure is an arrangement of data that enables


efficient processing by a program.
Main purpose of data structure is to facilitate storage and
manipulation of data.

Arrays in Java are homogeneous data structures implemented in Java as


objects. Arrays store one or more values of a specific data type and
provide indexed access to store the same. A specific element in an array is
accessed by its index. Arrays offer a convenient means of grouping related
information.
An array is an indexed sequence of values of the same
type.
Each primitive type value occupies a fixed number of
locations. Array values are stored in contiguous locations.

Array_name.length; //Refers to the length of an array


Constructors
Need for a constructor: It can be tedious to initialize all of the variables
in a class each time an instance is created. It would be simpler and more
concise to have all of the setup done at the time the object is first created.
Java allows objects to initialize themselves when they are created through
the use of a constructor.
A constructor initializes an object immediately upon creation. Once
defined, the constructor is automatically called when the object is created,
before the new operator completes.
***It has the same name as the class in which it resides.
***It is syntactically similar to a method.
*** They have no return type, not even void because the implicit return
type of a class’s constructor is the class type itself.
Destructors in Java
A destructor is a special method that gets called automatically as soon as
the life-cycle of an object is finished. A destructor is called to de-allocate
and free memory. The following tasks get executed when a destructor is
called.
 Releasing the release locks
 Closing all the database connections or files
 Releasing all the network resources
 Other Housekeeping tasks
 Recovering the heap space allocated during the lifetime of an
object
*** The allocation and release of memory are implicitly handled by the
garbage collector in Java.
A garbage collector is a program that runs on the Java virtual machine
to recover the memory by deleting the objects which are no longer in use
or have finished their life-cycle. An object is said to be eligible for garbage
collection if and only if the object is unreachable.

The finalize( ) Method


An object will need to perform some action when it is destroyed. This
includes; if an object is holding some non-Java resource such as a file
handle or character font, then you might want to make sure these
resources are freed before an object is destroyed.
Java does this by use of the finalization mechanism to define specific
actions that will occur when an object is just about to be reclaimed by the
garbage collector.
To add a finalizer to a class, define the finalize( ) method. The Java run
time calls that method whenever it is about to recycle an object of that
class. Inside the finalize( ) method, you will specify those actions that
must be performed before an object is destroyed. The garbage collector
runs periodically, checking for objects that are no longer referenced by
any running state or indirectly through other referenced objects. Right
before an asset is freed, the Java run time calls the finalize( ) method on
the object.
The finalize( ) method syntax:
protected void finalize( ){
// finalization code here
}
*** the keyword protected is a specifier that limits access to finalize( ).
*** finalize( ) is only called just prior to garbage collection, it is not called
when an object goes out-of-scope.
*** your program should provide other means of releasing system
resources used by the object. It must not rely entirely on finalize( ) for
normal program operation.

The “this” Keywords


Defining a method

Methods is used to define reusable code, organize and simplify coding.


modifier returnValueType methodName(list of parameters) {
// Method body;
}
***Calling a method executes the code in the method.

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