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Java Java Objects Meet Objects Constructors

Ronan Corcoran
Ronan Corcoran
878 Points
Posted by Ronan Corcoran
Ronan Corcoran
878 Points

Why do some keywords like this.variableName have a dot while new ClassName has a space?

I'm unsure of why when creating an object we right it as PezDispenser dispenser = new PezDispenser();

instead of PezDispenser dispenser = new.PezDispenser();

I keep mixing up spaces and dots when using some keywords. I understnad that dots used for calling methods.

but why does this.characterName use a dot and not space.an inversly why is the keyword new follwed by a space and then the class name.

Thanks

Ronan

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,184 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,184 Points

You nearly answered it yourself when you said "the keyword new". And since "new" is indeed a keyword and not a class instance, it is followed by a space. You do the same thing with other keywords like "class" or "return".

But when you write "this.characterName", "this" is a class instance. So the membership operator (the dot) is used to join it to the name of one of its fields (like "characterName").