How to Read Code in Java

4 min read•july 11, 2024

Milo Chang

AP Computer Science A 💻

130 resources

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Once you recognize the frequent symbols used in Java, you'll be a pro at understanding what's happening in the code!

Java Symbols to Know 🏆

== compares the value on the left and the value on the right
% gives you the remainder when the value on the left is divided by the right
! means "not", so != means "not equal to"
i++ is the same as i += 1 or i = i+1
i-- is the same as i -=1 or i = i-1
i*= 2 is the same as i = i*2

Java Examples

Example #1 🤔

for (int i=0; i<5; i++)
{
   System.out.print(i);
}

What is printed as a result of executing this code?

The value of i starts off at 0 when the for loop begins, so when i is printed, the computer prints "0"
Since the loop increments by i++, the value of i is now 1, and the computer prints "1"
i increases in value until i equals 4 and the computer prints "4"
After that, i increases in value to 5, but 5 is not less than 5, so the computer exits the for loop and does not print anything else
Since the code uses "print", all of the numbers are printed on the same line

Your output is: 01234

Example #2 😃

for (int i=0; i<5; i+=1)
{
   if (i%2 == 0)
   {
      System.out.print(i);
   }

   else if (i!=3)
   {
      System.out.println(i*2);
   }
 
   else
   {
      System.out.print("Three");
   }
}

What is printed as a result of executing this code?

The value of i starts off at 0 when the for loop begins
Since 0%2 equals 0 (since the remainder when 0 is divided by 2 is 0), the first if statement is true and the code inside executes, printing "0"
The value of i then increases by 1 to become 1
Since 1%2 is not equal to 0, the computer checks the else-if statement
1 is not equal to 3, so the computer prints 1*2, or "2"
BE CAREFUL!!! Since the code says "println", the computer prints the "2" next to the "0", then starts a new line!
If you continue tracing the code, when i becomes 2, the computer prints "2"
When i equals 3, it fails the if statement and the else-if statement, which means the code in the else statement runs, printing "Three"
Continue tracing the code for i equals 4 and the computer prints "4"

Your output is: 02 2Three4

Example #3 😎

int count = 1;
while (count<5)
{
   count*=2;
}
System.out.println(count);

What is printed as a result of executing this code?

When the code begins, count equals 1
Since 1 is less than 5, the computer enters the while loop and count is doubled, making count equal to 2
Since 2 is still less than 5, the computer re-enters the while loop and count is doubled again, making count equal to 4
Since 4 is still less than 5, the computer re-enters the while loop and count is doubled and now equals 8
Now that 8 is not less than 5, the computer moves on and prints count, or "8"

Your output is: 8

Example #4: 👍

public int addNums (int x, int y)
{
   return x+y;
}

What does the method return with after the method call addNums (5,10)?

The method returns the integer value 15. (Since 5+10 = 15.)

Example #5 🤓

for (int y=5; y>0; y--)
{
   for (int x=0; x<5; x++)
   {
      System.out.print(y);
   }
   System.out.println();
}

What is the output when you execute this code?

First of all, don't panic when you see this snippet, it's easy to solve if you follow it step-by-step and write every step down. 🙌

Start when y equals 5:

Now that you're on the inside of the double for loop, just focus on the inner for loop
The inner for loop prints y, which is currently 5, five times
Now the the inner for loop is finished, the computer exits that loop and moves on to "System.out.println()", which causes the computer to skip a line
Since there's nothing inside the parentheses, nothing is printed

The value of y then decreases by 1, so y now equals 4. Repeat the same process as above for y equals 4, then 3, then 2, then 1. The code stops running after that because y ends up being 0 and does not meet the condition that y is greater than 0, causing the computer to exit all of the loops.

Your output is: 55555 44444 33333 22222 11111

Summary 🎉✨😎

As you trace the code, write down what variables the computer has stored and what is being printed (and how it is printed)
Understand the common symbols used in Java
Pay careful attention to what is happening to the variables (and write down any changes) because a wrong value will lead you to the wrong answer
Pay attention to "print" vs. "println" because they lead to very different outputs

Browse Study Guides By Unit

➕Unit 1 – Primitive Types

📱Unit 2 – Using Objects

🖥Unit 3 – Boolean Expressions & if Statements

🕹Unit 4 – Iteration

⚙️Unit 5 – Writing Classes

⌚️Unit 6 – Array

💾Unit 7 – ArrayList

💻Unit 8 – 2D Array

🖲Unit 9 – Inheritance

🖱Unit 10 – Recursion

🧐Exam Skills