Overview
This lecture explains how to print special characters in Java using escape characters, focusing on handling double quotes, backslashes, tabs, and newlines.
Printing Text in Java
- Use
System.out.println() to print text followed by a new line.
- Use
System.out.print() to print text without moving to a new line.
- Any text in double quotes will be output to the screen as is.
Printing Special Characters
- Most symbols (e.g., ! @ # $) can be printed directly like letters and numbers.
- Printing double quotes within a string will cause an error due to ambiguity in string boundaries.
Escape Characters in Java
- Use a backslash (
\) as an escape character to "escape" normal rules for certain symbols.
- To print a double quote, use
\" inside the string.
- To print a single quote, use
\' (though usually needed in char literals).
- To print a backslash, use
\\ because a single backslash is reserved for escaping.
More Escape Sequences
- Use
\t for a horizontal tab in the output.
- Use
\n to create a new line within the printed text.
- Spaces combined with
\n will show up as leading spaces on new lines.
Summary of Usage
- Escaping allows printing problematic characters like quotes and slashes.
- Use
\\ for a backslash, \" for double quotes, \t for tab, and \n for new line.
- Remembering all escapes is less important; refer to notes as needed.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Escape Character — A backslash (
\) used to signal Java to treat the following character specially, overriding its normal function.
- String Literal — Text enclosed in double quotes that Java interprets as a sequence of characters.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and practice using escape sequences in your own Java print statements.
- Check provided notes in the course description for reference.
- Watch the next video in the Java beginner series for continued learning.