Murach’s Java Programming, 6/e

This is the 6th Edition of our best-selling Java book. Since 2001, it has been used by thousands of beginning and experienced programmers to master the Java skills that are essential, whether you’re creating desktop, web, or mobile applications. Now revised to cover Java SE 17 and updated throughout, it focuses on today’s best practices, covers both NetBeans and Eclipse, and makes it easier than ever to learn Java, even if you’ve never programmed in any language before.

What to expect from this book

Get a quick start

You’ll be writing your first complete Java applications at the end of chapter 2!

Build realistic applications

By the end of chapter 9 (section 1), you’ll know how to use Java classes, objects, and methods to write applications that validate user input and use files to store your data.

Work more efficiently by using an IDE

Starting from chapter 1, you’ll take advantage of the time-saving features that an IDE provides as you use NetBeans or Eclipse to create, compile, run, test, and debug Java applications.

Make sense out of object-oriented programming

Chapter 7 introduces you to object-oriented programming (OOP), including the concept of encapsulation. Then, chapters 10 and 11 (section 2) explain inheritance and polymorphism in a way that cuts through the mystery and confusion these subjects can cause. At the end, you’ll know how to develop real-world, object-oriented, business applications.

Create user-friendly GUIs

Section 3 shows how to develop attractive graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with JavaFX, a modern library that’s designed to replace the aging Swing library.

Master essential professional skills

In section 4, you’ll learn more Java skills that you’ll use all the time, like extra skills for working with strings, collections, lambdas, recursion, algorithms, dates, times, and databases. Each chapter in this section is independent of the others, so you can add these skills to your resume whenever you need them.

Work with databases like a pro

To complete your OOP training, chapter 19 shows you how to write database classes that map objects to a relational database. First, you’ll learn how to use SQL to work with a SQLite database. Then, you’ll learn how to use JDBC to work with any database.

Profit from our time-saving format and practical applications

All the content is in our distinctive paired-pages format, where each topic is presented in a two-page spread: the examples and reference material are on the righthand page with additional explanation on the left. This helps you learn faster by reading less...and it’s the ideal reference format when you need to refresh your memory about how to do something.

As for the examples, they include complete programs that build from the simple to the complex. We believe that studying the code for complete, real-world programs like these is critical. They tie all your newfound skills together to build your confidence and competence…unlike the trivial examples that you so often find in Java tutorials.

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone who wants to learn the essentials of Java programming. It works: if you have an aptitude for problem-solving but no programming experience at all if you have programming experience with another language if you already know an older version of Java and you want to update your skills if you’ve already read 3 or 4 other Java books and still don’t know how to develop a real-world application If you want to go into mobile or web development using Java… This book is a favorite among developers who are moving into programming Android apps or Java web applications. Chapters 1-11 deliver the essential Java skills that you need, whether you’re looking for a first course in Java or a refresher.

What’s NEW in this edition

This book has been updated from Java SE 9 to SE 17, which is the current long-term support (LTS) release. As part of this update, we have streamlined this book to do a better job than ever of setting the right pace for beginners.

New book features

• Eclipse coverage has been integrated into the book.
• Scanner object coverage has been simplified to make it easier and less error-prone to get input from the console.
• The coverage of arrays, array lists, and file I/O has been simplified. These subjects are also presented earlier to make the book applications in section 1 more realistic.
• JavaFX coverage has been expanded and is presented earlier.
• There’s a new chapter on recursion and algorithms to help beginners learn about these important programming concepts.

New Java features

• Type inference lets you write code that’s more concise and easier to maintain
• Arrow labels provide a more concise and less error-prone way to write switch statements
• Switch expressions provide a more concise way to write switch statements that set the value of a variable
• Pattern matching with the instanceof operator provides a more concise way to get objects that match a specified type
• Records provide a concise way to code immutable objects that you can use to transfer data
• Sealed classes provide a new way to control how inheritance hierarchies work

What software you need

This book teaches you how to develop Java applications using:

• Java Standard Edition (Java SE)
• NetBeans or Eclipse

Although this book covers Java SE 17, the code it presents will work with future versions of Java. In addition, this book clearly notes which features have been added since SE 9, which makes it possible to use this book with earlier releases too.

Beyond that, using the time-saving features of an IDE is not only the professional approach, it’s also the easiest and best way to learn Java. That’s why this book shows how to use NetBeans and Eclipse, the two most popular IDEs for Java development.

Appendix A (Windows) and Appendix B (macOS) in the book explain how to install the software, all of which is free.