Ebook: Learning Java: An Introduction to Real-World Programming with Java (Early Release)

Ideal for working programmers new to Java, this best-selling book guides you through the language features and APIs of Java 21. Through fun, compelling, and realistic examples, author Marc Loy introduces you to Java fundamentals, including its class libraries, programming techniques, and idioms, with an eye toward building real applications.

This updated sixth edition expands the content to cover lambdas and streams, and shows you how to use a functional paradigm in Java. You'll learn about the latest Java features introduced since the book's fifth edition, from JDK 15 through 21. You'll also take a deep dive into the virtual threads introduced as Project Loom in Java 19 and become familiar with the public release of JDK 21 LTS.

The Java programming language was designed to be a machine-independent programming language that is both safe enough to traverse networks and powerful enough to replace native executable code. Java addresses the issues raised here and played a starring role in the growth of the internet, leading to where we are today.

Initially, most of the enthusiasm for Java centered on its capabilities for building embedded applications for the web, called applets. But in the early days, applets and other client-side graphical user interfaces (GUIs) written in Java were limited. Today, Java has Swing, a sophisticated toolkit for building GUIs. This development has allowed Java to become a viable platform for developing traditional client-side application software, although many other contenders have entered this crowded field.

This guide helps you:

Learn the structure of the Java language and Java applications
Write, compile, and execute Java applications
Understand the basics of Java threading and concurrent programming
Learn Java I/O basics, including local files and network resources
Create compelling interfaces with an eye toward usability
Learn how functional features have been integrated in Java
Keep up with Java developments as new versions are released