Java Advanced Guide

Java Advanced Guide - Modern Java Features

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Collections Framework
• Generics
• Lambda Expressions
• Streams API
• Functional Interfaces
• Method References
• Optional
• Multithreading Basics
• Working with Files
• Date and Time API
• Annotations
• Practice Exercises

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Introduction

This guide covers advanced Java features that will take your coding to the next level. These features were introduced in Java 8 and later, making Java more powerful and expressive.

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Collections Framework

The Collections framework provides data structures to store and manipulate groups of objects.

List Interface

An ordered collection (sequence) that allows duplicates.

import java.util.*;

// ArrayList - dynamic array
List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();
names.add("Alice");
names.add("Bob");
names.add("Charlie");
names.add("Alice");  // Duplicates allowed

System.out.println(names.get(0));  // Alice
System.out.println(names.size());   // 4

// LinkedList - linked list
List<Integer> numbers = new LinkedList<>();
numbers.add(1);
numbers.add(2);
numbers.add(3);

// Loop through list
for (String name : names) {
    System.out.println(name);
}

Set Interface

Collection that doesn't allow duplicates.

import java.util.*;

// HashSet - no specific order
Set<String> fruits = new HashSet<>();
fruits.add("Apple");
fruits.add("Banana");
fruits.add("Apple");  // Won't be added (duplicate)
System.out.println(fruits.size());  // 2

// TreeSet - sorted order
Set<Integer> numbers = new TreeSet<>();
numbers.add(5);
numbers.add(2);
numbers.add(8);
numbers.add(1);
System.out.println(numbers);  // [1, 2, 5, 8]

Map Interface

Stores key-value pairs.

import java.util.*;

// HashMap - key-value storage
Map<String, Integer> ages = new HashMap<>();
ages.put("Alice", 25);
ages.put("Bob", 30);
ages.put("Charlie", 35);

System.out.println(ages.get("Alice"));  // 25
System.out.println(ages.containsKey("Bob"));  // true

// Iterate over map
for (Map.Entry<String, Integer> entry : ages.entrySet()) {
    System.out.println(entry.getKey() + ": " + entry.getValue());
}

Queue Interface

For handling collections that act as queues (FIFO).

import java.util.*;

// PriorityQueue - elements processed by priority
Queue<Integer> pq = new PriorityQueue<>();
pq.add(5);
pq.add(2);
pq.add(8);
pq.add(1);

while (!pq.isEmpty()) {
    System.out.println(pq.poll());  // 1, 2, 5, 8
}

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Generics

Generics allow you to create classes, interfaces, and methods that work with any data type.

Generic Class

// Box can hold any type
class Box<T> {
    private T content;
    
    public void set(T content) {
        this.content = content;
    }
    
    public T get() {
        return content;
    }
}

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Box<String> stringBox = new Box<>();
        stringBox.set("Hello");
        System.out.println(stringBox.get());  // Hello
        
        Box<Integer> intBox = new Box<>();
        intBox.set(42);
        System.out.println(intBox.get());  // 42
    }
}

Multiple Type Parameters

class Pair<K, V> {
    private K key;
    private V value;
    
    public Pair(K key, V value) {
        this.key = key;
        this.value = value;
    }
    
    public K getKey() { return key; }
    public V getValue() { return value; }
}

Pair<String, Integer> pair = new Pair<>("Age", 25);
System.out.println(pair.getKey());   // Age
System.out.println(pair.getValue()); // 25

Generic Methods

public class Utils {
    // Generic method
    public static <T> void printArray(T[] array) {
        for (T item : array) {
            System.out.print(item + " ");
        }
        System.out.println();
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Integer[] nums = {1, 2, 3};
        String[] words = {"Hello", "World"};
        
        printArray(nums);   // 1 2 3 
        printArray(words);  // Hello World
    }
}

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Lambda Expressions

Lambdas are concise way to represent anonymous functions (methods without names).

Basic Syntax

// Traditional way
Runnable r1 = new Runnable() {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        System.out.println("Running!");
    }
};

// Lambda way
Runnable r2 = () -> System.out.println("Running!");

Lambda with Parameters

// No parameters
() -> System.out.println("Hello")

// One parameter
x -> x * 2

// Multiple parameters
(a, b) -> a + b

// Multiple statements
(a, b) -> {
    int sum = a + b;
    return sum;
}

Using Lambdas with Collections

List<String> names = Arrays.asList("Alice", "Bob", "Charlie", "Diana");

// Traditional loop
for (String name : names) {
    System.out.println(name);
}

// Lambda with forEach
names.forEach(name -> System.out.println(name));

// Even shorter!
names.forEach(System.out::println);

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Streams API

Streams provide a functional approach to processing collections.

Creating Streams

import java.util.*;

// From collection
List<Integer> list = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
Stream<Integer> stream = list.stream();

// From array
String[] arr = {"a", "b", "c"};
Stream<String> stream2 = Arrays.stream(arr);

// From values
Stream<Integer> stream3 = Stream.of(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);

Stream Operations

List<Integer> numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);

// filter - keep elements that match
List<Integer> evens = numbers.stream()
    .filter(n -> n % 2 == 0)
    .collect(Collectors.toList());
System.out.println(evens);  // [2, 4, 6, 8, 10]

// map - transform each element
List<Integer> doubled = numbers.stream()
    .map(n -> n * 2)
    .collect(Collectors.toList());
System.out.println(doubled);  // [2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20]

// sorted - sort elements
List<String> sorted = names.stream()
    .sorted()
    .collect(Collectors.toList());

// distinct - remove duplicates
List<Integer> distinct = numbers.stream()
    .distinct()
    .collect(Collectors.toList());

// limit - take first N elements
List<Integer> first5 = numbers.stream()
    .limit(5)
    .collect(Collectors.toList());

// skip - skip first N elements
List<Integer> skipFirst5 = numbers.stream()
    .skip(5)
    .collect(Collectors.toList());

Terminal Operations

List<Integer> numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);

// forEach - do something for each element
numbers.stream().forEach(n -> System.out.println(n));

// collect - convert to collection
List<Integer> list = numbers.stream().collect(Collectors.toList());
Set<Integer> set = numbers.stream().collect(Collectors.toSet());

// count - count elements
long count = numbers.stream().count();

// min/max - find min/max
Optional<Integer> min = numbers.stream().min(Integer::compareTo);
Optional<Integer> max = numbers.stream().max(Integer::compareTo);

// reduce - combine elements
Optional<Integer> sum = numbers.stream().reduce((a, b) -> a + b);
System.out.println(sum.orElse(0));  // 15

// findFirst/findAny - find element
Optional<Integer> first = numbers.stream().findFirst();

// anyMatch/allMatch/noneMatch - check conditions
boolean hasEven = numbers.stream().anyMatch(n -> n % 2 == 0);
boolean allPositive = numbers.stream().allMatch(n -> n > 0);

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Functional Interfaces

Functional interfaces have exactly one abstract method. They're used with lambdas.

Common Functional Interfaces

Interface	Method	Description
Predicate<T>	test(T t)	Returns boolean
Function<T,R>	apply(T t)	Transforms T to R
Consumer<T>	accept(T t)	Consumes T, returns nothing
Supplier<T>	get()	Returns T
UnaryOperator<T>	apply(T t)	T → T
BinaryOperator<T>	apply(T t1, T t2)	(T, T) → T

Using Functional Interfaces

import java.util.function.*;

// Predicate - returns boolean
Predicate<Integer> isEven = n -> n % 2 == 0;
System.out.println(isEven.test(4));  // true

// Function - transforms
Function<String, Integer> stringLength = s -> s.length();
System.out.println(stringLength.apply("Hello"));  // 5

// Consumer - uses value
Consumer<String> printer = s -> System.out.println(s);
printer.accept("Hello!");

// Supplier - provides value
Supplier<Double> randomValue = () -> Math.random();
System.out.println(randomValue.get());

// Combining
Predicate<Integer> isPositive = n -> n > 0;
Predicate<Integer> isEven2 = n -> n % 2 == 0;
Predicate<Integer> isPositiveAndEven = isPositive.and(isEven2);
System.out.println(isPositiveAndEven.test(4));  // true

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Method References

Method references are a shorthand way to write lambdas that call methods.

Types of Method References

import java.util.*;

// 1. Static method: ClassName::staticMethod
Function<String, Integer> parser = Integer::parseInt;
System.out.println(parser.apply("123"));  // 123

// 2. Instance method of object: object::instanceMethod
String str = "Hello";
Function<Integer, Character> charAt = str::charAt;
System.out.println(charAt.apply(1));  // 'e'

// 3. Instance method of type: ClassName::instanceMethod
Function<String, String> upper = String::toUpperCase;
System.out.println.upper.apply("hello"));  // HELLO

// 4. Constructor: ClassName::new
Supplier<ArrayList<String>> listSupplier = ArrayList::new;
ArrayList<String> list = listSupplier.get();

Method Reference vs Lambda

// These are equivalent:
list.forEach(s -> System.out.println(s));
list.forEach(System.out::println);

list.stream().map(s -> s.toUpperCase());
list.stream().map(String::toUpperCase);

list.stream().filter(s -> s.isEmpty());
list.stream().filter(String::isEmpty);

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Optional

Optional is a container that may or may not contain a value. It helps avoid NullPointerException.

Creating Optional

import java.util.Optional;

// Create with value
Optional<String> opt1 = Optional.of("Hello");
Optional<String> opt2 = Optional.ofNullable("Hello");

// Create empty
Optional<String> empty = Optional.empty();

// Create from nullable (allows null)
Optional<String> opt3 = Optional.ofNullable(null);

Using Optional

Optional<String> opt = Optional.ofNullable("Hello");

// Check if present
if (opt.isPresent()) {
    System.out.println(opt.get());  // Hello
}

// orElse - default if empty
String result = opt.orElse("Default");
System.out.println(result);  // Hello

// orElseGet - supplier for default
String result2 = opt.orElseGet(() -> "Computed Default");

// orElseThrow - throw if empty
String result3 = opt.orElseThrow(() -> new IllegalArgumentException("Empty!"));

// ifPresent - do if present
opt.ifPresent(s -> System.out.println("Value: " + s));

// map - transform if present
Optional<Integer> len = opt.map(s -> s.length());

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Multithreading Basics

Multithreading allows your program to do multiple things at the same time.

Creating Threads

// Method 1: Extend Thread
class MyThread extends Thread {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
            System.out.println("Thread: " + i);
        }
    }
}

// Method 2: Implement Runnable
class MyRunnable implements Runnable {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
            System.out.println("Runnable: " + i);
        }
    }
}

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Start thread
        MyThread thread1 = new MyThread();
        thread1.start();
        
        // Using Runnable
        Thread thread2 = new Thread(new MyRunnable());
        thread2.start();
        
        // Lambda (simplest)
        Thread thread3 = new Thread(() -> {
            for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
                System.out.println("Lambda: " + i);
            }
        });
        thread3.start();
    }
}

Thread Synchronization

class Counter {
    private int count = 0;
    
    // Synchronized method - only one thread at a time
    public synchronized void increment() {
        count++;
    }
    
    public int getCount() {
        return count;
    }
}

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException {
        Counter counter = new Counter();
        
        Thread t1 = new Thread(() -> {
            for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
                counter.increment();
            }
        });
        
        Thread t2 = new Thread(() -> {
            for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
                counter.increment();
            }
        });
        
        t1.start();
        t2.start();
        
        t1.join();
        t2.join();
        
        System.out.println(counter.getCount());  // 2000
    }
}

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Working with Files

Java provides easy ways to read and write files.

Reading Files

import java.io.*;
import java.nio.file.*;

// Using Scanner
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(new File("input.txt"));
while (scanner.hasNextLine()) {
    System.out.println(scanner.nextLine());
}
scanner.close();

// Using BufferedReader
try (BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new FileReader("input.txt"))) {
    String line;
    while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
        System.out.println(line);
    }
}

// Using Files (Java 7+)
List<String> lines = Files.readAllLines(Paths.get("input.txt"));
for (String line : lines) {
    System.out.println(line);
}

Writing Files

import java.io.*;
import java.nio.file.*;

// Using BufferedWriter
try (BufferedWriter writer = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter("output.txt"))) {
    writer.write("Hello, World!");
    writer.newLine();
    writer.write("Second line");
}

// Using Files (Java 7+)
String content = "Hello, World!\nSecond line";
Files.write(Paths.get("output.txt"), content.getBytes());

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Date and Time API

Java 8 introduced a new date/time API that's much easier to use.

Creating Dates and Times

import java.time.*;

// Current date
LocalDate today = LocalDate.now();
System.out.println(today);  // 2024-01-15

// Specific date
LocalDate birthday = LocalDate.of(2000, 5, 15);
System.out.println(birthday);  // 2000-05-15

// Current time
LocalTime now = LocalTime.now();
System.out.println(now);  // 14:30:45.123

// Specific time
LocalTime meeting = LocalTime.of(14, 30);
System.out.println(meeting);  // 14:30

// Date and time together
LocalDateTime dateTime = LocalDateTime.now();
System.out.println(dateTime);  // 2024-01-15T14:30:45

Date Operations

LocalDate date = LocalDate.now();

// Add/subtract
LocalDate nextWeek = date.plusWeeks(1);
LocalDate lastMonth = date.minusMonths(1);

// Get parts
int year = date.getYear();
int month = date.getMonthValue();
int day = date.getDayOfMonth();

// Compare
boolean isAfter = date.isAfter(LocalDate.of(2020, 1, 1));
boolean isBefore = date.isBefore(LocalDate.of(2030, 1, 1));

Formatting

import java.time.format.*;

LocalDate date = LocalDate.of(2024, 1, 15);
DateTimeFormatter formatter = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("dd/MM/yyyy");
String formatted = date.format(formatter);
System.out.println(formatted);  // 15/01/2024

// Parse back
LocalDate parsed = LocalDate.parse("15/01/2024", formatter);

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Annotations

Annotations add metadata to your code.

Built-in Annotations

// @Override - marks method override
@Override
public void doSomething() { }

// @Deprecated - marks deprecated code
@Deprecated
public void oldMethod() { }

// @SuppressWarnings - suppresses warnings
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
public void rawType() { }

// @FunctionalInterface - marks functional interface
@FunctionalInterface
interface MyFunction {
    void apply();
}

Custom Annotations

// Define annotation
@interface Author {
    String name();
    String date();
}

// Use annotation
@Author(name = "John", date = "2024-01-15")
public class MyClass {
    // class body
}

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Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Stream Operations

Use streams to filter and transform a list.

import java.util.*;
import java.util.stream.*;

public class Exercise1 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        List<Integer> numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);
        
        // Filter even numbers and double them
        List<Integer> result = numbers.stream()
            .filter(n -> n % 2 == 0)
            .map(n -> n * 2)
            .collect(Collectors.toList());
        
        System.out.println(result);  // [4, 8, 12, 16, 20]
    }
}

Exercise 2: Optional

Safely handle nullable values.

import java.util.Optional;

public class Exercise2 {
    public static String getName(Optional<String> name) {
        return name.orElse("Unknown");
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Optional<String> name1 = Optional.of("Alice");
        Optional<String> name2 = Optional.empty();
        
        System.out.println(getName(name1));   // Alice
        System.out.println(getName(name2));   // Unknown
    }
}

Exercise 3: Thread Creation

Create threads using lambdas.

public class Exercise3 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Thread t1 = new Thread(() -> {
            for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
                System.out.println("Thread A: " + i);
            }
        });
        
        Thread t2 = new Thread(() -> {
            for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
                System.out.println("Thread B: " + i);
            }
        });
        
        t1.start();
        t2.start();
    }
}

Exercise 4: Generic Method

Create a method that finds the maximum.

public class Exercise4 {
    public static <T extends Comparable<T>> T findMax(T[] array) {
        if (array == null || array.length == 0) {
            return null;
        }
        
        T max = array[0];
        for (T item : array) {
            if (item.compareTo(max) > 0) {
                max = item;
            }
        }
        return max;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Integer[] nums = {3, 5, 2, 8, 1};
        System.out.println(findMax(nums));  // 8
        
        String[] words = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"};
        System.out.println(findMax(words));  // cherry
    }
}

Exercise 5: Date/Time

Work with dates and times.

import java.time.*;

public class Exercise5 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        LocalDate today = LocalDate.now();
        LocalDate birthday = LocalDate.of(2000, 6, 15);
        
        // Calculate age
        Period age = Period.between(birthday, today);
        System.out.println("Age: " + age.getYears());
        
        // Add 10 years
        LocalDate tenYearsLater = today.plusYears(10);
        System.out.println("In 10 years: " + tenYearsLater);
    }
}

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Summary

In this guide, you learned:

• ✅ The Collections framework (List, Set, Map, Queue)
• ✅ Generics for type-safe code
• ✅ Lambda expressions for concise code
• ✅ Stream API for functional processing
• ✅ Functional interfaces
• ✅ Method references
• ✅ Optional to handle nulls safely
• ✅ Multithreading basics
• ✅ File I/O operations
• ✅ Date and Time API
• ✅ Annotations

Next Steps: Move on to Java Complete Reference for a comprehensive reference guide!

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You're now a Java expert! Congratulations! 🎉