abstract class A class from which you must inherit and further define.
Abstract Windowing Toolkit The collection of pre-defined classes that construct and manage I/O controls.
access modifier Determines how a subclass can use a data member or method from a parent class.
accelerator key A keyboard shortcut to a menu or editing command, also called a hot key.
ActiveX A control that extends Visual Basic's VBX, OLE, and COM controls so that you can use and develop controls for both desktop and online environments.
applet A small embedded program that executes when an end-user views a Web page that contains Java code.
applet viewer A program that runs your applet without requiring that you log onto the Internet.
array A collection of variables with a single name distinguished from one another with a numeric index.
AWT See Abstract Windowing Toolkit.
bit The smallest computer value represented by an on or off state of electricity.
bitwise operators Operators that manipulate and test individual bits within a data value.
block One or more Java statements, enclosed in braces, that Java treats as a single statement.
bookmark An flagged electronic location in text that you can easily return to.
Books Online The online reference guides available from the InfoViewer help tab.
Boolean A true or false value.
breakpoint A program stopping location where execution halts so that you can analyze the program's data and flow.
browser Lets you search and display class information. Also a nickname for Web browser.
bug A computer software error.
build To compile and prepare all files inside a project for execution.
byte A single character made up of eight internal bits.
bytecode Machine-independent Java executable code that a Java-aware Web browser can execute.
call stack The list of currently executed method procedure calls.
Cartesian coordinates The x- and y-coordinate number pairs that represent a window's specific pixel location.
CGI See Common Gateway Interface.
check box A checked or unchecked control that indicates a particular option.
child class An inherited class.
class Defines a program object's data and methods. Generally, each Java applet contains one class.
class package A file that contains a collection of classes.
code A program's instructions.
COM See Common Object Model.
comments Program notes that describe the program's purpose and statements.
Common Gateway Interface The language used to allow some interaction with Web pages.
Common Object Model A standard interface that lets pre-defined software objects communicate with each other.
comparison operator See relational operator.
compiler A program that converts source code into executable code or, in the case of Visual J++'s Java language, into bytecode.
concatenation The merging of one string with another.
constructor A procedure that creates and defines an object.
container See panel.
content handler Lets a Web browser display information in an unknown format.
context-sensitive help The online help system's ability to analyze your current location and provide assistance for you.
control A user's controlling object, such as a button or text box, with which the user can enter values, view information, or control processing.
data member An object's data portion.
debugger A program that helps you locate and eliminate program errors.
default constructor A constructor method that takes no parameters supplied by Visual J++ if you do not supply one of your own.
Developer Studio The Visual J++ program-development tools, which includes an editor and Java debugger.
device context A representation of your program's output window.
editor A text-creation and editing window inside Visual J++'s Developer Studio that lets you create and change your Visual J++ programs.
element A single value from an array.
escape sequence A special character's representation.
event A Windows operation such as a mouse click, mouse movement, or keystroke.
event handler Code in a program that responds to Windows events.
exception A deviation from an expected path.
exception handling Catching and managing program exceptions.
executable content The Java-based embedded program that often comes with Web sites.
floating-point A decimal numeric value that contains a fractional portion.
focus The highlight on the currently active control.
folder A disk's directory or subdirectory.
GUI Stands for Graphical User Interface referring to computer graphical environments such as Windows and UNIX's XWindows.
hexadecimal The base-16 numbering system used in the debugger's Assembly window.
home page A Web site's opening page with links to related Web pages.
hot key See accelerator key.
hot spot See hypertext link.
HotJava A Java-aware Web browser from Sun Microsystems, the creators of the original Java language.
hypertext link A cross-referenced location on a Web page that refers to another Web page or that provides additional information when you click the hypertext link.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) A Web page's formatting language.
HTML See Hypertext Markup Language.
identifiers A programming language's collection of variable, object, label, and method names.
InfoViewer Visual J++'s help search and display system.
inheritance The process that takes place when one class assumes all the data and executable methods of an existing class.
instance variable An instantiated object.
instantiate The act of creating a new object from the object's class description.
integer A whole numeric value.
Internet Explorer Microsoft's Web-browsing software.
I/O An abbreviation for Input/Output.
iteration One execution of a loop's code body.
Java The language that provides executable content for Web pages and that Visual J++ supports.
JView Visual J++'s applet viewer that lets you test and view Visual J++ programs without using a Web browser.
label A named program location.
literal An unchanging data value.
logic error An error that makes a program perform incorrectly.
logical operator An operator that combines two or more relational operators.
loop One or more statements that execute repeatedly.
macro A collection of stored keystrokes.
method An executable procedure.
Mosaic The name of the first graphical Web browsing software products.
multithreaded application A program that contains several execution paths.
named constant A variable that you cannot modify.
null string An empty string.
object An active data item with property values and executable methods.
Object-Oriented Programming Also called OOP. The process of writing programs using active data objects instead of passive data that procedural programs utilize. You can more easily extend object-oriented programs than procedural programs.
octal The base-8 numbering system.
OOP See Object-Oriented Programming.
operator hierarchy The order that Visual J++ interprets operators within expressions.
operators Symbols and keywords that manipulate data.
operator precedence See operator hierarchy.
order See operator hierarchy.
package See class package.
panel A I/O control's holding place. Also called a container.
parameter A value sent from one location to another.
parent class The class from which you inherit another class.
pixel A picture element that is the smallest addressable dot on a computer screen.
point A measurement of 1/72nd of an inch.
polygon A multisided graphic figure.
precedence See operator hierarchy.
primitive graphic methods Fundamental pre-defined methods that draw and color graphic shapes.
procedural programs Programs that work on passive data values instead of taking advantage of more active objects.
project A collection of files related to a specific Visual J++ program.
program A set of instructions that tells the computer what to do.
protocol The specific rules that enable two computers to communicate with one another.
protocol handler A program sent to a Web browser that lets the browser communicate in an unknown protocol.
prototype A model that describes a method's return and parameter data types.
radio button One of a set of mutually-exclusive options.
regular expression Visual J++'s Find command's description for the wildcard searches you specify.
relational operator An operator that compares two data values.
RGB The Red/Green/Blue color combinations that comprise your computer's color spectrum.
runtime error An error that appears when you run a program.
scientific notation A shortcut method for representing extremely large or extremely small numeric values.
scope The visibility of a variable.
shortcut key See accelerator key.
site An Internet location.
spawn Create and trigger an execution thread.
statement A line from a program.
string Zero or more characters taken as a group.
subclass An inherited class.
subclassing The process of inheriting one class from another.
subprojects Small project groups inside a larger project.
subscript A number associated with an array element.
substring A portion of another string.
syntax error An error in program grammar or spelling.
tab references HTML formatting commands enclosed in angled brackets, such as <TITLE>.
tear-off menu A menu that remains on the screen after the user releases the mouse button.
text area Receives and displays large scrolling portions of text.
text box Receives and displays text.
thread A program's execution path.
toolbar A collection of buttons, with icons, that perform program tasks.
ToolTips The pop-up descriptions that appear when you rest your mouse pointer over a toolbar button.
typecast Temporarily change a variable's data type.
Uniform Resource Locator An address that defines the location of a Web page.
URL See Uniform Resource Locator.
variable A named holder of data inside a program.
virtual machine The part of a Web browser that runs Java bytecode.
Visual J++ Microsoft's Java-based product that lets you produce Web pages that contain executable content.
Web See Wide World Web.
Web browser Software that lets you search for and view Web pages.
wizard A step-by-step guide that walks you through a task such as the development of a Visual J++ applet.
workspace A project file.
World Wide Web (WWW) An interconnected series of graphical Internet sites.
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