Overview

Java: Inheritance, Exceptions, and APIs is the third course of Exam Prep: Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 [1Z0-808] Specialization. This course begins with essential Java fundamentals, covering syntax, variables, and data types, before progressing into more advanced topics such as object-oriented programming, inheritance, and encapsulation. Learners will explore how to apply operators and decision constructs, create and manipulate arrays, and effectively use looping mechanisms to control program flow. The course emphasizes method creation, overloading, and the use of access modifiers for building modular, reusable code. Hands-on modules focus on manipulating data with Strings, StringBuilder, and ArrayList, managing calendar data, and writing lambda expressions that implement functional interfaces such as Predicate. This course is ideal for: - Individuals who are starting their careers in Java development. - Students who have completed foundational Java courses and want to validate their knowledge with an industry-recognized certification. - Individuals who provide support for Java applications, including how exceptions work and how APIs are used, can help them diagnose problems more efficiently. By the end of the course, you will be able to: - Apply object-oriented programming concepts by implementing inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces to design modular and reusable Java classes. - Analyze program errors by creating try-catch blocks, differentiating between checked, unchecked, and Error types, and using exception handling to maintain normal program flow. - Develop Java data structures and API to efficiently manage data in Java applications.

Syllabus

Working with Inheritance

Welcome to Week 1. This week, we’ll begin by examining the concept of inheritance, understanding how subclasses extend parent classes, and identifying the key benefits of this mechanism for building maintainable code structures. You’ll then learn how polymorphism allows objects to take multiple forms at runtime, enabling dynamic method binding and more adaptable program design. Next, we’ll discuss type casting, when it’s necessary, how to perform it safely, and what errors to avoid when working with parent and child class references. You’ll also practice using the super and this keywords to access constructors, methods, and fields effectively within class hierarchies. By the end of this module, you’ll have a strong grasp of how inheritance and polymorphism enable clean, scalable, and extensible object-oriented design in Java.

Handling Exceptions

Welcome to Week 2. This week, we’ll begin by distinguishing between checked exceptions, unchecked exceptions, and errors, and discuss how each type affects program flow. Next, you’ll learn how to implement try-catch blocks to handle exceptions gracefully and maintain smooth application execution. We’ll cover the advantages of using exception handling for building robust and fault-tolerant applications, followed by a hands-on session where you’ll create and invoke methods that throw exceptions. Finally, you’ll get familiar with common exception classes such as NullPointerException, IOException, and ArithmeticException, and understand when and how to use them effectively. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to identify, handle, and recover from runtime anomalies in Java programs, ensuring your applications remain stable and resilient under unexpected conditions.

Working with Selected Classes from the Java API

Welcome to this module. This week, you’ll explore how to work effectively with Strings, the StringBuilder class, and calendar data in Java. You’ll start by learning how to create and manipulate both immutable String objects and mutable StringBuilder instances to optimize performance when handling text. Next, you’ll work with calendar data to perform date and time operations essential for real-world applications. You’ll also dive into Java Collections by declaring and using ArrayList to store and manage dynamic data sets. Finally, you’ll get introduced to Lambda expressions, a key feature of Java SE 8, by writing simple functional constructs using Predicate interfaces. By the end of this module, you’ll be comfortable manipulating text, dates, and collections, and writing concise, functional-style Java code.