Java Keywords
Java has a set of keywords that are reserved words that cannot be used as variables, methods, classes, or any other identifiers:
Keyword | Description |
---|---|
abstract | A non-access modifier. Used for classes and methods: An abstract class cannot be used to create objects (to access it, it must be inherited from another class). An abstract method can only be used in an abstract class, and it does not have a body. The body is provided by the subclass (inherited from) |
assert | For debugging |
boolean | A data type that can only store true and false values |
break | Breaks out of a loop or a switch block |
byte | A data type that can store whole numbers from -128 and 127 |
case | Marks a block of code in switch statements |
catch | Catches exceptions generated by try statements |
char | A data type that is used to store a single character |
class | Defines a class |
continue | Continues to the next iteration of a loop |
const | Defines a constant. Not in use - use final instead |
default | Specifies the default block of code in a switch statement |
do | Used together with while to create a do-while loop |
double | A data type that can store whole numbers from 1.7e−308 to 1.7e+308 |
else | Used in conditional statements |
enum | Declares an enumerated (unchangeable) type |
exports | Exports a package with a module. New in Java 9 |
extends | Extends a class (indicates that a class is inherited from another class) |
final | A non-access modifier used for classes, attributes and methods, which makes them non-changeable (impossible to inherit or override) |
finally | Used with exceptions, a block of code that will be executed no matter if there is an exception or not |
float | A data type that can store whole numbers from 3.4e−038 to 3.4e+038 |
for | Create a for loop |
if | Makes a conditional statement |
implements | Implements an interface |
import | Used to import a package, class or interface |
instanceof | Checks whether an object is an instance of a specific class or an interface |
int | A data type that can store whole numbers from -2147483648 to 2147483647 |
interface | Used to declare a special type of class that only contains abstract methods |
long | A data type that can store whole numbers from -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775808 |
module | Declares a module. New in Java 9 |
native | Specifies that a method is not implemented in the same Java source file (but in another language) |
new | Creates new objects |
package | Declares a package |
private | An access modifier used for attributes, methods and constructors, making them only accessible within the declared class |
protected | An access modifier used for attributes, methods and constructors, making them accessible in the same package and subclasses |
public | An access modifier used for classes, attributes, methods and constructors, making them accessible by any other class |