Inheritance and Data Structures in Java

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/java-inheritance-data-structures

Introduction

# Course Review: Inheritance and Data Structures in Java on Coursera ## Overview If you are looking to deepen your understanding of Java programming and enhance your skills in object-oriented programming, the "Inheritance and Data Structures in Java" course on Coursera is an excellent choice. This course provides a comprehensive insight into Java inheritance, access modifiers, and method overriding, equipping students with the essential knowledge required to write efficient and effective Java code. The course delves into concepts such as abstract classes, file I/O, regular expressions, and complex data structures like collections and maps. Additionally, it offers strategies for error handling and debugging, making it a perfect fit for anyone looking to tackle real-world programming challenges. ## Syllabus Breakdown ### Module 1: Inheritance, Polymorphism Using Overriding, & Access Modifiers The first module sets a solid foundation by introducing inheritance, a cornerstone of object-oriented programming. Here, you will learn how one class can inherit fields and methods from another. The discussion on polymorphism through method overriding is particularly insightful, as it helps you grasp how to create dynamic, reusable code. The course also covers access modifiers, which are crucial for controlling the visibility of your class members, promoting better encapsulation in your programs. This module is essential for understanding how Java programs are structured and organized. ### Module 2: Abstract Classes & Debugging In the second module, the concept of abstract classes is introduced. Learning that you can declare methods without defining them expands your design capabilities and allows for greater flexibility in your code. Additionally, the debugging section, which leverages Eclipse’s powerful debugging tools, instructionally guides you through troubleshooting issues effectively. Debugging is a critical skill for any developer, and this module ensures you are well-prepared to identify and rectify errors swiftly. ### Module 3: File I/O & Exceptions Module three addresses the vital components of file input/output (I/O) operations in Java. You will learn how to read from and write to external files, an essential aspect of data persistence. The module also emphasizes error handling through exceptions, vital for developing robust applications. This comprehensive approach ensures you are not only aware of how to manipulate data but also prepared for the challenges that arise from these operations. ### Module 4: Collections, Maps, & Regular Expressions The final module expands your understanding of data structures by introducing collections and maps. You'll learn about Java’s collections framework, which is integral for managing groups of objects. The module also explains maps in detail, showcasing how to associate keys with values. Furthermore, the introduction of regular expressions is timely, offering powerful techniques for text parsing and manipulation. This knowledge is particularly beneficial for tasks such as data validation and searching, making your programming toolkit even more versatile. ## Conclusion: Why You Should Enroll The "Inheritance and Data Structures in Java" course is a well-structured and engaging program that not only teaches vital Java concepts but also fosters practical coding skills. The interactive declarations, combined with project-oriented learning, ensure that you can apply your newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get a solid grasp of Java or an intermediate programmer wanting to refine your skills, this course is highly recommended. You'll leave with a robust understanding of inheritance, data structures, debugging techniques, and file operations—all critical competencies in modern software development. ### **Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)** Overall, if you want to boost your Java programming abilities and prepare yourself for complex programming tasks, enrolling in this Coursera course is a decision you won’t regret!

Syllabus

Module 1 : Inheritance, Polymorphism Using Overriding, & Access Modifiers

We’ll start this module by talking about inheritance, a core concept in object-oriented programming. It’s the mechanism by which one class inherits the fields and methods of another class. Then we’ll learn about another aspect of polymorphism, overriding, which is creating a method in a subclass having the same signature as a method in a superclass. In particular, we’ll look at overriding the toString method for printing your objects and the equals method for comparing your objects, especially as it relates to unit testing. Finally, how you can restrict scope in a program by using modifiers to control access to variables, methods, and classes.

Did you know you can declare a method without defining it? It’s like giving a method a name, and even parameters and a return type, with no code in the body. These are called abstract methods. To define abstract methods, we’ll learn how to create abstract classes. With these new concepts and structures, we’ll continue to expand our Java knowledge and develop our programming skills. We’ll also learn how to better debug our programs by running them interactively using Eclipse’s Debugger. This will allow us to watch the source code and the variables, during execution.

There are multiple ways of loading and storing data in Java. Information can be stored and manipulated in different kinds of data structures. But data can also be stored in external files and then loaded into Java. In this module, we'll see how Java can communicate with the outside world by opening, reading from, and writing to, external files. This means of communication known as I/O or input/output, is extremely powerful with an overwhelming number of options. Any given I/O is not particularly difficult, but the difficulty lies in finding your way through the maze of possibilities. This module will help guide you through some of the different ways you can interact with external files. In addition, it will demonstrate methods you can use to handle errors and exceptions that may arise in your Java programs. In particular, when you're dealing with files.

In this module, we're going to look at some advanced techniques for storing and manipulating data in collections, which are structured groups of objects. Specifically, we'll learn how to leverage Java's collections framework, which is a unified architecture for representing and manipulating different kinds of collections. We already have experience working with one type of collection in particular, and that's the ArrayList. We'll also learn how to leverage maps, which are dictionaries that associate keys with values. This module will also provide an overview of some advanced techniques for parsing text. In particular, we'll learn how to use regular expressions or regex, which are special sequences of characters that describe patterns used for searching, editing, and manipulating text and data.