Core Java interview questions

By admin | October 9, 2004

1. Can there be an abstract class with no abstract methods in it? - Yes
2. Can an Interface be final? - No
3. Can an Interface have an inner class? - Yes.
4. public interface abc
5. {
6. static int i=0; void dd();
7. class a1
. {
9. a1()
10. {
11. int j;
12. System.out.println("inside");
13. };
14. public static void main(Strin a1!")
15. {
16. System.out.println("in interfia");
17. }
1. }
19. }
20. Can we define private and protected modifiers for variables in interfaces? - No
21. What is Externalizable? - !"terna#i$ab#e is an %nter&ace t'at e"tends (eria#i$ab#e
%nter&ace. )nd sends data into (treams in *om+ressed ,ormat. %t 'as t-o met'ods,
-rite!"terna#.Ob/ectO0+0t o0t1 and read!"terna#.Ob/ect%n+0t in1
22. What modifiers are allowed for methods in an Interface? - On#y +0b#ic and abstract
modi&iers are a##o-ed &or met'ods in inter&aces.
23. What is a local, member and a class variable? - 2ariab#es dec#ared -it'in a met'od are
3#oca#4 5ariab#es. 2ariab#es dec#ared -it'in t'e c#ass i.e not -it'in any met'ods are
3member4 5ariab#es .6#oba# 5ariab#es1. 2ariab#es dec#ared -it'in t'e c#ass i.e not -it'in
any met'ods and are de&ined as 3static4 are c#ass 5ariab#es
24. What are the different identifier states of a Thread? - 7'e di&&erent identi&iers o& a
7'read are8 9 - 90nnin6 or r0nnab#e t'read, ( - (0s+ended t'read, *: - 7'read -aitin6
on a condition 5ariab#e, ;: - 7'read -aitin6 on a monitor #oc<, ;( - 7'read s0s+ended
-aitin6 on a monitor #oc<
25. What are some alternatives to inheritance? - =e#e6ation is an a#ternati5e to
in'eritance. =e#e6ation means t'at yo0 inc#0de an instance o& anot'er c#ass as an instance
5ariab#e, and &or-ard messa6es to t'e instance. %t is o&ten sa&er t'an in'eritance beca0se
it &orces yo0 to t'in< abo0t eac' messa6e yo0 &or-ard, beca0se t'e instance is o& a
<no-n c#ass, rat'er t'an a ne- c#ass, and beca0se it doesn>t &orce yo0 to acce+t a## t'e
met'ods o& t'e s0+er c#ass8 yo0 can +ro5ide on#y t'e met'ods t'at rea##y ma<e sense. On
t'e ot'er 'and, it ma<es yo0 -rite more code, and it is 'arder to re-0se .beca0se it is not a
s0bc#ass1.
26. Wh isn!t there operator overloadin"? - Beca0se *?? 'as +ro5en by e"am+#e t'at
o+erator o5er#oadin6 ma<es code a#most im+ossib#e to maintain. %n &act t'ere 5ery near#y
-asn>t e5en met'od o5er#oadin6 in @a5a, b0t it -as t'o06't t'at t'is -as too 0se&0# &or
some 5ery basic met'ods #i<e +rint.1. Note t'at some o& t'e c#asses #i<e
=ataO0t+0t(tream 'a5e 0no5er#oaded met'ods #i<e -rite%nt.1 and -riteByte.1.
27. What does it mean that a method or field is #static$? - (tatic 5ariab#es and met'ods
are instantiated on#y once +er c#ass. %n ot'er -ords t'ey are c#ass 5ariab#es, not instance
5ariab#es. %& yo0 c'an6e t'e 5a#0e o& a static 5ariab#e in a +artic0#ar ob/ect, t'e 5a#0e o&
t'at 5ariab#e c'an6es &or a## instances o& t'at c#ass. (tatic met'ods can be re&erenced -it'
t'e name o& t'e c#ass rat'er t'an t'e name o& a +artic0#ar ob/ect o& t'e c#ass .t'o06' t'at
-or<s too1. 7'at>s 'o- #ibrary met'ods #i<e (ystem.o0t.+rint#n.1 -or<. o0t is a static
&ie#d in t'e /a5a.#an6.(ystem c#ass.
2. %ow do I convert a numeric I& address li'e ()*+(,+)-+.) into a hostname li'e
/ava+sun+com?
29. Strin #ostname = $net%ddress.et&y'ame("1().1*.(+.,(").et-ost'ame();
30. 0ifference between J1E2J342J05?
31. Wh do threads bloc' on I26? - 7'reads b#oc< on iAo .t'at is enters t'e -aitin6 state1 so
t'at ot'er t'reads may e"ec0te -'i#e t'e %AO o+eration is +er&ormed.
32. What is snchronization and wh is it important? - :it' res+ect to m0#tit'readin6,
sync'roni$ation is t'e ca+abi#ity to contro# t'e access o& m0#ti+#e t'reads to s'ared
reso0rces. :it'o0t sync'roni$ation, it is +ossib#e &or one t'read to modi&y a s'ared ob/ect
-'i#e anot'er t'read is in t'e +rocess o& 0sin6 or 0+datin6 t'at ob/ect>s 5a#0e. 7'is o&ten
#eads to si6ni&icant errors.
33. Is null a 'eword? - 7'e n0## 5a#0e is not a <ey-ord.
34. Which characters ma be used as the second character of an identifier,but not as the
first character of an identifier? - 7'e di6its 0 t'ro06' 9 may not be 0sed as t'e &irst
c'aracter o& an identi&ier b0t t'ey may be 0sed a&ter t'e &irst c'aracter o& an identi&ier.
35. What modifiers ma be used with an inner class that is a member of an outer class?
- ) .non-#oca#1 inner c#ass may be dec#ared as +0b#ic, +rotected, +ri5ate, static, &ina#, or
abstract.
36. %ow man bits are used to represent 7nicode, 89CII, 7T:;(<, and 7T:;,
characters? - Bnicode reC0ires 16 bits and )(*%% reC0ire 7 bits. )#t'o06' t'e )(*%%
c'aracter set 0ses on#y 7 bits, it is 0s0a##y re+resented as bits. B7,- re+resents
c'aracters 0sin6 , 16, and 1 bit +atterns. B7,-16 0ses 16-bit and #ar6er bit +atterns.
37. What are wrapped classes? - :ra++ed c#asses are c#asses t'at a##o- +rimiti5e ty+es to
be accessed as ob/ects.
3. What restrictions are placed on the location of a pac'a"e statement within a source
code file? - ) +ac<a6e statement m0st a++ear as t'e &irst #ine in a so0rce code &i#e
.e"c#0din6 b#an< #ines and comments1.
39. What is the difference between preemptive schedulin" and time slicin"? - Bnder
+reem+ti5e sc'ed0#in6, t'e 'i6'est +riority tas< e"ec0tes 0nti# it enters t'e -aitin6 or
dead states or a 'i6'er +riority tas< comes into e"istence. Bnder time s#icin6, a tas<
e"ec0tes &or a +rede&ined s#ice o& time and t'en reenters t'e +oo# o& ready tas<s. 7'e
sc'ed0#er t'en determines -'ic' tas< s'o0#d e"ec0te ne"t, based on +riority and ot'er
&actors.
40. What is a native method? - ) nati5e met'od is a met'od t'at is im+#emented in a
#an60a6e ot'er t'an @a5a.
41. What are order of precedence and associativit, and how are the used? - Order o&
+recedence determines t'e order in -'ic' o+erators are e5a#0ated in e"+ressions.
)ssociatity determines -'et'er an e"+ression is e5a#0ated #e&t-to-ri6't or ri6't-to-#e&t
42. What is the catch or declare rule for method declarations? - %& a c'ec<ed e"ce+tion
may be t'ro-n -it'in t'e body o& a met'od, t'e met'od m0st eit'er catc' t'e e"ce+tion
or dec#are it in its t'ro-s c#a0se.
43. Can an anonmous class be declared as implementin" an interface and extendin" a
class? - )n anonymo0s c#ass may im+#ement an inter&ace or e"tend a s0+erc#ass, b0t may
not be dec#ared to do bot'.
44. What is the ran"e of the char tpe? - 7'e ran6e o& t'e c'ar ty+e is 0 to 2D16 - 1.
7'is entry -as +osted in @a5a, Net-or<in6. Boo<mar< t'e +erma#in<. Eost a comment or #ea5e a
trac<bac<8 7rac<bac< B9F.
uestion= :'at is transient 5ariab#eG
8nswer= 7ransient 5ariab#e canHt be seria#i$e. ,or e"am+#e i& a 5ariab#e is dec#ared as transient in
a (eria#i$ab#e c#ass and t'e c#ass is -ritten to an Ob/ect(tream, t'e 5a#0e o& t'e 5ariab#e canHt be
-ritten to t'e stream instead -'en t'e c#ass is retrie5ed &rom t'e Ob/ect(tream t'e 5a#0e o& t'e
5ariab#e becomes null.
>uestion= Name t'e containers -'ic' 0ses Border Fayo0t as t'eir de&a0#t #ayo0tG
8nswer= *ontainers -'ic' 0ses Border Fayo0t as t'eir de&a0#t are8 -indo-, ,rame and =ia#o6
c#asses.

>uestion= :'at do yo0 0nderstand by (ync'roni$ationG
8nswer= (ync'roni$ation is a +rocess o& contro##in6 t'e access o& s'ared reso0rces by t'e
m0#ti+#e t'reads in s0c' a manner t'at on#y one t'read can access one reso0rce at a time. %n non
sync'roni$ed m0#tit'readed a++#ication, it is +ossib#e &or one t'read to modi&y a s'ared ob/ect
-'i#e anot'er t'read is in t'e +rocess o& 0sin6 or 0+datin6 t'e ob/ectHs 5a#0e. (ync'roni$ation
+re5ents s0c' ty+e o& data corr0+tion.
E+"+ 9nchronizin" a function=
+0b#ic sync'roni$ed 5oid ;et'od1 .1 I
AA )++ro+riate met'od-re#ated code.
J
E+"+ 9nchronizin" a bloc' of code inside a function=
+0b#ic my,0nction .1I
sync'roni$ed .t'is1 I
AA (ync'roni$ed code 'ere.
J
J

>uestion= :'at is *o##ection )E%G
8nswer= 7'e *o##ection )E% is a set o& c#asses and inter&aces t'at s0++ort o+eration on
co##ections o& ob/ects. 7'ese c#asses and inter&aces are more &#e"ib#e, more +o-er&0#, and more
re60#ar t'an t'e 5ectors, arrays, and 'as'tab#es i& e&&ecti5e#y re+#aces.
Example of classes8 -as#Set, -as#.ap, %rray/ist, /in0ed/ist, 1reeSet and 1ree.ap.
Example of interfaces8 2ollection, Set, /ist and .ap.

>uestion= %s %terator a *#ass or %nter&aceG :'at is its 0seG
8nswer= %terator is an inter&ace -'ic' is 0sed to ste+ t'ro06' t'e e#ements o& a *o##ection.

>uestion= :'at is simi#aritiesAdi&&erence bet-een an )bstract c#ass and %nter&aceG
8nswer= =i&&erences are as &o##o-s8
%nter&aces +ro5ide a &orm o& m0#ti+#e in'eritance. ) c#ass can e"tend on#y one ot'er c#ass.
%nter&aces are #imited to +0b#ic met'ods and constants -it' no im+#ementation. )bstract
c#asses can 'a5e a +artia# im+#ementation, +rotected +arts, static met'ods, etc.
) *#ass may im+#ement se5era# inter&aces. B0t in case o& abstract c#ass, a c#ass may
e"tend on#y one abstract c#ass.
%nter&aces are s#o- as it reC0ires e"tra indirection to to &ind corres+ondin6 met'od in in
t'e act0a# c#ass. )bstract c#asses are &ast.
(imi#arities8
Neit'er )bstract c#asses or %nter&ace can be instantiated.

>uestion= Ko- to de&ine an )bstract c#assG
8nswer= ) c#ass containin6 abstract met'od is ca##ed )bstract c#ass. )n )bstract c#ass canHt be
instantiated.
!"am+#e o& )bstract c#ass8
abstract c#ass test)bstract*#ass I
+rotected (trin6 my(trin6L
+0b#ic (trin6 6et;y(trin6.1 I
ret0rn my(trin6L
J
+0b#ic abstract strin6 any)bstract,0nction.1L
J

>uestion= Ko- to de&ine an %nter&aceG
8nswer= %n @a5a %nter&ace de&ines t'e met'ods b0t does not im+#ement t'em. %nter&ace can
inc#0de constants. ) c#ass t'at im+#ements t'e inter&aces is bo0nd to im+#ement a## t'e met'ods
de&ined in %nter&ace.
!ma+#e o& %nter&ace8
+0b#ic inter&ace sam+#e%nter&ace I
+0b#ic 5oid &0nctionOne.1L
+0b#ic #on6 *ON(7)N7MON! N 1000L
J

>uestion= !"+#ain t'e 0ser de&ined !"ce+tionsG
8nswer= Bser de&ined !"ce+tions are t'e se+arate !"ce+tion c#asses de&ined by t'e 0ser &or
s+eci&ic +0r+osed. )n 0ser de&ined can created by sim+#y s0b-c#assin6 it to t'e !"ce+tion c#ass.
7'is a##o-s c0stom e"ce+tions to be 6enerated .0sin6 t'ro-1 and ca06't in t'e same -ay as
norma# e"ce+tions.
!"am+#e8
c#ass my*0stom!"ce+tion e"tends !"ce+tion I
AA 7'e c#ass sim+#y 'as to e"ist to be an e"ce+tion
J

>uestion= !"+#ain t'e ne- ,eat0res o& @=B* 2.0 *ore )E%G
8nswer= 7'e @=B* 2.0 )E% inc#0des t'e com+#ete @=B* )E%, -'ic' inc#0des bot' core and
O+tiona# Eac<a6e )E%, and +ro5ides ind0ctria#-stren6t' database com+0tin6 ca+abi#ities.
Ne- ,eat0res in @=B* 2.0 *ore )E%8
(cro##ab#e res0#t sets- 0sin6 ne- met'ods in t'e 9es0#t(et inter&ace a##o-s
+ro6rammatica##y mo5e t'e to +artic0#ar ro- or to a +osition re#ati5e to its c0rrent
+osition
@=B* 2.0 *ore )E% +ro5ides t'e Batc' B+dates &0nctiona#ity to t'e /a5a a++#ications.
@a5a a++#ications can no- 0se t'e 9es0#t(et.0+dateOOO met'ods.
Ne- data ty+es - inter&aces ma++in6 t'e (PF3 data ty+es
*0stom ma++in6 o& 0ser-de&ined ty+es .B7=s1
;isce##aneo0s &eat0res, inc#0din6 +er&ormance 'ints, t'e 0se o& c'aracter streams, &0##
+recision &or /a5a.mat'.Bi6=ecima# 5a#0es, additiona# sec0rity, and s0++ort &or time
$ones in date, time, and timestam+ 5a#0es.

>uestion= !"+#ain 6arba6e co##ectionG
8nswer= Qarba6e co##ection is one o& t'e most im+ortant &eat0re o& @a5a. Qarba6e co##ection is
a#so ca##ed a0tomatic memory mana6ement as @2; a0tomatica##y remo5es t'e 0n0sed
5ariab#esAob/ects .5a#0e is n0##1 &rom t'e memory. Bser +ro6ram cannHt direct#y &ree t'e ob/ect
&rom memory, instead it is t'e /ob o& t'e 6arba6e co##ector to a0tomatica##y &ree t'e ob/ects t'at
are no #on6er re&erenced by a +ro6ram. !5ery c#ass in'erits finalize?@ met'od &rom
/ava+lan"+6b/ect, t'e &ina#i$e.1 met'od is ca##ed by 6arba6e co##ector -'en it determines no
more re&erences to t'e ob/ect e"ists. %n @a5a, it is 6ood idea to e"+#icit#y assi6n null into a
5ariab#e -'en no more in 0se. % @a5a on ca##in6 9stem+"c?@ and 1untime+"c?@, @2; tries to
recyc#e t'e 0n0sed ob/ects, b0t t'ere is no 60arantee -'en a## t'e ob/ects -i## 6arba6e co##ected.

>uestion= Ko- yo0 can &orce t'e 6arba6e co##ectionG
8nswer= Qarba6e co##ection a0tomatic +rocess and canHt be &orced.

>uestion= :'at is OOE(G
8nswer= OOE is t'e common abbre5iation &or Ob/ect-Oriented Ero6rammin6.

>uestion= =escribe t'e +rinci+#es o& OOE(.
8nswer= 7'ere are t'ree main +rinci+a#s o& oo+s -'ic' are ca##ed Eo#ymor+'ism, %n'eritance
and !nca+s0#ation.

>uestion= !"+#ain t'e !nca+s0#ation +rinci+#e.
8nswer= !nca+s0#ation is a +rocess o& bindin6 or -ra++in6 t'e data and t'e codes t'at o+erates
on t'e data into a sin6#e entity. 7'is <ee+s t'e data sa&e &rom o0tside inter&ace and mis0se. One
-ay to t'in< abo0t enca+s0#ation is as a +rotecti5e -ra++er t'at +re5ents code and data &rom
bein6 arbitrari#y accessed by ot'er code de&ined o0tside t'e -ra++er.

>uestion= !"+#ain t'e %n'eritance +rinci+#e.
8nswer= %n'eritance is t'e +rocess by -'ic' one ob/ect acC0ires t'e +ro+erties o& anot'er ob/ect.


>uestion= !"+#ain t'e Eo#ymor+'ism +rinci+#e.
8nswer= 7'e meanin6 o& Eo#ymor+'ism is somet'in6 #i<e one name many &orms. Eo#ymor+'ism
enab#es one entity to be 0sed as as 6enera# cate6ory &or di&&erent ty+es o& actions. 7'e s+eci&ic
action is determined by t'e e"act nat0re o& t'e sit0ation. 7'e conce+t o& +o#ymor+'ism can be
e"+#ained as Rone inter&ace, m0#ti+#e met'odsR.

>uestion= !"+#ain t'e di&&erent &orms o& Eo#ymor+'ism.
8nswer= ,rom a +ractica# +ro6rammin6 5ie-+oint, +o#ymor+'ism e"ists in t'ree distinct &orms
in @a5a8
;et'od o5er#oadin6
;et'od o5erridin6 t'ro06' in'eritance
;et'od o5erridin6 t'ro06' t'e @a5a inter&ace


>uestion= :'at are )ccess (+eci&iers a5ai#ab#e in @a5aG
8nswer= )ccess s+eci&iers are <ey-ords t'at determines t'e ty+e o& access to t'e member o& a
c#ass. 7'ese are8
E0b#ic
Erotected
Eri5ate
=e&a0#ts


>uestion= =escribe t'e -ra++er c#asses in @a5a.
8nswer= :ra++er c#ass is -ra++er aro0nd a +rimiti5e data ty+e. )n instance o& a -ra++er c#ass
contains, or -ra+s, a +rimiti5e 5a#0e o& t'e corres+ondin6 ty+e.
,o##o-in6 tab#e #ists t'e +rimiti5e ty+es and t'e corres+ondin6 -ra++er c#asses8
&rimitive Wrapper
boolean /ava+lan"+Aoolean
bte /ava+lan"+Ate
char /ava+lan"+Character
double /ava+lan"+0ouble
float /ava+lan"+:loat
int /ava+lan"+Inte"er
lon" /ava+lan"+Bon"
short /ava+lan"+9hort
void /ava+lan"+3oid


>uestion= 9ead t'e &o##o-in6 +ro6ram8
+0b#ic c#ass test I
+0b#ic static 5oid main.(trin6 ST ar6s1 I
int " N 3L
int y N 1L
i& ." N y1
(ystem.o0t.+rint#n.RNot eC0a#R1L
e#se
(ystem.o0t.+rint#n.R!C0a#R1L
J
J
:'at is t'e res0#tG
). 7'e o0t+0t is 3!C0a#4
B. 7'e o0t+0t in 3Not !C0a#4
*. )n error at R i& ." N y1R ca0ses com+i#ation to &a##.
=. 7'e +ro6ram e"ec0tes b0t no o0t+0t is s'o- on conso#e.
8nswer= C
>uestion= -'at is t'e c#ass 5ariab#es G
8nswer= :'en -e create a n0mber o& ob/ects o& t'e same c#ass, t'en eac' ob/ect -i## s'are a
common co+y o& 5ariab#es. 7'at means t'at t'ere is on#y one co+y +er c#ass, no matter 'o-
many ob/ects are created &rom it. *#ass 5ariab#es or static 5ariab#es are dec#ared -it' t'e static
<ey-ord in a c#ass, b0t mind it t'at it s'o0#d be dec#ared o0tside o0tside a c#ass. 7'ese 5ariab#es
are stored in static memory. *#ass 5ariab#es are most#y 0sed &or constants, 5ariab#e t'at ne5er
c'an6e its initia# 5a#0e. (tatic 5ariab#es are a#-ays ca##ed by t'e c#ass name. 7'is 5ariab#e is
created -'en t'e +ro6ram starts i.e. it is created be&ore t'e instance is created o& c#ass by 0sin6
ne- o+erator and 6ets destroyed -'en t'e +ro6rams sto+s. 7'e sco+e o& t'e c#ass 5ariab#e is
same a instance 5ariab#e. 7'e c#ass 5ariab#e can be de&ined any-'ere at c#ass #e5e# -it' t'e
<ey-ord static. %t initia# 5a#0e is same as instance 5ariab#e. :'en t'e c#ass 5ariab#e is de&ined as
int t'en itHs initia# 5a#0e is by de&a0#t $ero, -'en dec#ared boo#ean its de&a0#t 5a#0e is &a#se and
n0## &or ob/ect re&erences. *#ass 5ariab#es are associated -it' t'e c#ass, rat'er t'an -it' any
ob/ect.
>uestion= :'at is t'e di&&erence bet-een t'e instanceo& and 6etc#ass, t'ese t-o are same or
not G
8nswer= instanceo& is a o+erator, not a &0nction -'i#e 6et*#ass is a met'od o& /a5a.#an6.Ob/ect
c#ass. *onsider a condition -'ere -e 0se
i&.o.6et*#ass.1.6etName.1.eC0a#s.R/a5a.#an6.;at'R11I J
7'is met'od on#y c'ec<s i& t'e c#assname -e 'a5e +assed is eC0a# to /a5a.#an6.;at'. 7'e c#ass
/a5a.#an6.;at' is #oaded by t'e bootstra+ *#assFoader. 7'is c#ass is an abstract c#ass.7'is c#ass
#oader is res+onsib#e &or #oadin6 c#asses. !5ery *#ass ob/ect contains a re&erence to t'e
*#assFoader t'at de&ines. 6et*#ass.1 met'od ret0rns t'e r0ntime c#ass o& an ob/ect. %t &etc'es t'e
/a5a instance o& t'e 6i5en &0##y C0a#i&ied ty+e name. 7'e code -e 'a5e -ritten is not necessary,
beca0se -e s'o0#d not com+are 6et*#ass.6etName.1. 7'e reason be'ind it is t'at i& t'e t-o
di&&erent c#ass #oaders #oad t'e same c#ass b0t &or t'e @2;, it -i## consider bot' c#asses as
di&&erent c#asses so, -e canHt com+are t'eir names. %t can on#y 6i5es t'e im+#ementin6 c#ass b0t
canHt com+are a inter&ace, b0t instanceo& o+erator can.
7'e instanceo& o+erator com+ares an ob/ect to a s+eci&ied ty+e. :e can 0se it to test i& an ob/ect
is an instance o& a c#ass, an instance o& a s0bc#ass, or an instance o& a c#ass t'at im+#ements a
+artic0#ar inter&ace. :e s'o0#d try to 0se instanceo& o+erator in +#ace o& 6et*#ass.1 met'od.
9emember instanceo& o+eator and 6et*#ass are not same. 7ry t'is e"am+#e, it -i## 'e#+ yo0 to
better 0nderstand t'e di&&erence bet-een t'e t-o.
%nter&ace oneI
J
*#ass 7-o im+#ements one I
J
*#ass 7'ree im+#ements one I
J
+0b#ic c#ass 7est I
+0b#ic static 5oid main.(trin6 ar6sST1 I
one test1 N ne- 7-o.1L
one test2 N ne- 7'ree.1L
(ystem.o0t.+rint#n.test1 instanceo& one1L AAtr0e
(ystem.o0t.+rint#n.test2 instanceo& one1L AAtr0e
(ystem.o0t.+rint#n.7est.6et*#ass.1.eC0a#s.test2.6et*#ass.111L AA&a#se
J
J