This book aims to provide a comprehensive coverage of Java 6 as a full-featured programming language, using the PC platform. The text assumes no prior programming experience. The only skills expected in the reader are basic keyboarding and user-level familiarity with the PC. The material is sprinkled with short Java programs and code fragments that illustrate the point at hand. The sample programs are stripped of all unnecessary complications and distracting details, however, most of them stand alone as small applications. The purpose of the sample programs is to provide a valid, running sample that can be reused in your own code. Java is a general-purpose programming language. Therefore, the Java programmer must deal with all the elements of a typical programming language, which inclide data types, operators and keywords, methods, classes, input and output, error handling, graphics, and a host of other necessary topics. This language core, which is necessary whatever the purpose of the application, is covered in the text.