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JavaBeginner

Java Fundamentals

Learn the basics of the Java language

19 chapters72 lessons207 challenges

Course curriculum

Chapter 1: Variables, Types & Operators

  • Variables and primitive types
  • Reference types, String and null
  • Operators
  • Casting and conversions

Chapter 2: Control Flow

  • if / else
  • switch (classic and modern)
  • for and while loops
  • for-each, break and continue

Chapter 3: Strings

  • String and basic methods
  • Comparison: equals vs ==
  • StringBuilder
  • Formatting and text blocks

Chapter 4: Arrays

  • Declaring and accessing
  • Iterating arrays
  • Multidimensional arrays
  • The Arrays class and its limits

Chapter 5: Methods

  • Declaring a method
  • Pass by value
  • Overloading
  • static vs instance

Chapter 6: OOP: Classes & Objects

  • Classes and objects
  • Constructors and this
  • Encapsulation
  • toString and equals

Chapter 7: Inheritance & Polymorphism

  • extends and super
  • Override
  • Polymorphism
  • final and modifiers

Chapter 8: Interfaces & Abstract Classes

  • Interfaces
  • Abstract classes
  • Interface or abstract class?
  • Default methods

Chapter 9: Collections Framework

  • List and ArrayList
  • Set and HashSet
  • Map and HashMap
  • Iterating collections

Chapter 10: Generics

  • What generics are
  • Generic classes and methods
  • Bounds (bounded types)
  • Wildcards

Chapter 11: Exception Handling

  • try / catch
  • Checked vs unchecked
  • finally and try-with-resources
  • throw and throws

Chapter 12: Lambdas & Stream API

  • Lambdas and functional interfaces
  • Streams: map and filter
  • reduce and collect
  • Optional

Chapter 13: Concurrency

  • Threads and Runnable
  • Race conditions and synchronized
  • ExecutorService and thread pools
  • Safe concurrent tools

Chapter 14: JVM, Memory & GC

  • How the JVM works
  • Stack and Heap
  • The Garbage Collector
  • Common memory errors

Chapter 15: Modern Java (17-21)

  • Records
  • Sealed classes
  • Pattern matching and switch
  • Text blocks and var

Chapter 16: Design Patterns

  • What design patterns are
  • Singleton and Factory
  • Builder
  • Strategy and Observer

Chapter 17: Performance & Senior Best Practices

  • Complexity and data structures
  • StringBuilder vs concatenation
  • Streams, autoboxing and traps
  • Measure before optimizing

Chapter 18: Interview Topics

  • equals and hashCode
  • == vs equals, String pool
  • final, static and immutability
  • Frequent interview questions

Chapter 19: Final project: Contact book

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