Variables in Interfaces

Variables in Interfaces:

 

You can use interfaces to import shared constants into multiple classes by simply declaring an interface that contains variables which are initialized to the desired values. When you include that interface in a class (that is, when you "implement" the interface), all of those variable names will be in scope as constants.

 

This is similar to using a header file in C/C++ to create a large number of #defined constants or const declarations. If an interface contains no methods, then any class that includes such an interface doesn't actually implement anything. It is as if that class were importing the constant variables into the class name space as final variables.

 

The next example uses this technique to implement an automated "decision maker":

 

import java.util.Random;

interface SharedConstants {

int NO = 0;

int YES = 1;

int MAYBE = 2;

int LATER = 3;

int SOON = 4;

int NEVER = 5;

}

class Question implements SharedConstants {

Random rand = new Random();

int ask() {

int prob = (int) (100 * rand.nextDouble());

if (prob < 30)

return NO; // 30%

else if (prob < 60)

return YES; // 30%

else if (prob < 75)

return LATER; // 15%

else if (prob < 98)

return SOON; // 13%

else

return NEVER; // 2%

}

}

class AskMe implements SharedConstants {

static void answer(int result) {

switch(result) {

case NO:

System.out.println("No");

break;

case YES:

System.out.println("Yes");

break;

case MAYBE:

System.out.println("Maybe");

break;

case LATER:

System.out.println("Later");

break;

case SOON:

System.out.println("Soon");

break;

case NEVER:

System.out.println("Never");

break;

}

}

public static void main(String args[]) {

Question q = new Question();

answer(q.ask());

answer(q.ask());

answer(q.ask());

answer(q.ask());

}

}

 

Notice that this program makes use of one of Java's standard classes: Random. This class provides pseudorandom numbers. It contains several methods which allow you to obtain random numbers in the form required by your program. In this example, the method nextDouble( ) is used. It returns random numbers in the range 0.0 to 1.0.

 

In this sample program, the two classes, Question and AskMe, both implement the SharedConstants interface where NO, YES, MAYBE, SOON, LATER, and NEVER are defined. Inside each class, the code refers to these constants as if each class had defined or inherited them directly. Here is the output of a sample run of this program. Note that the results are different each time it is run.

 

Later

Soon

No

Yes

 

 

Interfaces Can Be Extended:

 

One interface can inherit another by use of the keyword extends. The syntax is the same as for inheriting classes. When a class implements an interface that inherits another interface, it must provide implementations for all methods defined within the interface inheritance chain. Following is an example:

 

// One interface can extend another.

interface A {

void meth1();

void meth2();

}

// B now includes meth1() and meth2() -- it adds meth3().

interface B extends A {

void meth3();

}

// This class must implement all of A and B

class MyClass implements B {

public void meth1() {

System.out.println("Implement meth1().");

}

public void meth2() {

System.out.println("Implement meth2().");

}

public void meth3() {

System.out.println("Implement meth3().");

}

}

class IFExtend {

public static void main(String arg[]) {

MyClass ob = new MyClass();

ob.meth1();

ob.meth2();

ob.meth3();

}

}

 

As an experiment you might want to try removing the implementation for meth1( ) in MyClass. This will cause a compile-time error. As stated earlier, any class that implements an interface must implement all methods defined by that interface, including any that are inherited from other interfaces.

 

Although the examples we've included in this book do not make frequent use of packages or interfaces, both of these tools are an important part of the Java programming environment. Virtually all real programs and applets that you write in Java will be contained within packages. A number will probably implement interfaces as well. It is important, therefore, that you be comfortable with their usage.