When learning Java, one of the very first concepts you’ll come across is tokens. Tokens are the smallest building blocks of a Java program. Just like words form a sentence in English, tokens form a program in Java. Without understanding tokens, it’s difficult to understand how a program is written and executed.
What are Tokens in Java?
In Java, a token is the smallest element of a program that has a specific meaning to the compiler. Tokens cannot be divided further and are used to construct statements, expressions, and methods.
For example, in the following line of Java code:
int age = 20;
-
int→ Keyword -
age→ Identifier -
=→ Operator -
20→ Literal -
;→ Separator
All these are tokens.
Types of Tokens in Java
Java tokens are categorized into 6 types:
1. Keywords
-
Reserved words in Java that have predefined meanings.
-
Cannot be used as identifiers (variable names, method names, etc.).
-
Example:
int,class,public,static,if,else,return.
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int number = 10; // 'int' and 'public' are keywords
System.out.println(number);
}
}
2. Identifiers
-
Names given to variables, methods, classes, etc.
-
Rules: Must start with a letter,
$, or_. Cannot start with digits. -
Example:
age,studentName,main.
int age = 25; // 'age' is an identifier
3. Literals (Constants)
-
Fixed values that don’t change during execution.
-
Types of literals:
-
Integer (
10,-5) -
Floating point (
3.14,2.5f) -
Character (
'A') -
String (
"Hello") -
Boolean (
true,false)
-
double pi = 3.14159; // 3.14159 is a literal
4. Operators
-
Symbols used to perform operations on variables and values.
-
Types:
-
Arithmetic (
+,-,*,/,%) -
Relational (
==,!=,>,<,>=,<=) -
Logical (
&&,||,!) -
Assignment (
=,+=,-=) -
Unary (
++,--)
-
int x = 10, y = 20;
int sum = x + y; // '+' is an operator
5. Separators (Punctuators)
-
Special symbols used to separate statements and code blocks.
-
Examples:
-
;(statement terminator) -
{ }(block of code) -
,(separates variables) -
()(method parameters) -
[](array declaration)
-
int numbers[] = {1, 2, 3}; // {}, [], , are separators
6. Comments (Not technically tokens, but important)
-
Used to add notes in the program. Ignored by the compiler.
-
Types:
-
Single-line:
// -
Multi-line:
/* ... */ -
Documentation:
/** ... */
-
// This is a single-line comment
/* This is
a multi-line comment */
Example Program with Tokens
public class TokensExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int a = 5; // int, a, =, 5, ; are tokens
int b = 10; // int, b, =, 10, ; are tokens
int sum = a + b; // int, sum, =, a, +, b, ; are tokens
System.out.println("Sum: " + sum); // identifiers, literals, operators
}
}
Output:
Sum: 15
Conclusion
Tokens in Java are the fundamental units of code. By combining keywords, identifiers, literals, operators, and separators, you can write complete and meaningful Java programs. Understanding tokens is essential for beginners, as it lays the foundation for mastering Java programming.
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