I n the space of a few short years, Java went from relative obscurity to being the most importantlanguage of the Internet. The impact of Java cannot be understated. It transformed the Web into a highly interactive environment, setting a new standard in computer language design in theprocess. The innovative aspects of Java have already changed the course of programming wellinto the foreseeable future. Therefore, if Internet-based programming is in your future, you havechosen the right language to learn—and this book will help you learn it. The purpose of this book is to teach you the fundamentals of Java programming. It uses a step-by-step approach complete with numerous examples, self-tests, and projects. It assumes noprevious programming experience. The book starts with the basics, such as how to compile andrun a Java program. It then discusses every keyword in the Java language. It concludes withsome of Java’s most advanced features, such as multithreaded programming and creating applets.By the time you finish, you will have a firm grasp of the essentials of Java programming. It is important to state at the outset that this book is just a starting point. Java is more than just the elements that define the language. Java also includes extensive libraries and tools thataid in the development of programs. Furthermore, Java provides a sophisticated set of librariesthat handle the browser user interface. To be a top-notch Java programmer implies mastery ofthese areas, too. After completing this book you will have the knowledge to pursue any and allother aspects of Java.