API of a Class
Each class has an API (Application Programming Interface) consisting of all the variables and methods that other programmers (i.e. in other classes) are allowed to use. These are designated by the "public" keyword.
Example showing part of the Java Date class:
- public class Date
- { // Constructor methods to create instances of class
- public Date();
- public Date(int year, int month, int day);
- // Accessor and Mutator methods to access and change data
- public int getHours();
- public int getYear();
- . . .
- public void setHours();
- public void setYear() . . .
- // Other public methods
- public boolean after(Date when);
- . . . }