The line import java.util.Scanner; in Java is used to bring the Scanner class from the java.util package into your Java program. Here’s a breakdown of its components:
import: This keyword is used in Java to include other classes or entire packages in your current Java file. Importing allows you to use the classes and interfaces defined in those packages without having to use their fully qualified names.
java.util: This is the package name. The
java.utilpackage contains utility classes that are part of the Java Standard Library. It includes classes for data structures (likeArrayList,HashMap), date and time manipulation, random number generation, and more.Scanner: This is the class that is being imported. The
Scannerclass is a part of thejava.utilpackage and is used for obtaining input from various sources, including user input from the keyboard, files, and streams. It provides methods to read different types of data, such as strings, integers, and doubles.
Example Usage
Here’s an example of how you might use the Scanner class in a simple Java program to read user input from the console:
“`java
import java.util.Scanner; // Import the Scanner class
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in); // Create a Scanner object
System.out.print("Enter your name: ");
String name = scanner.nextLine(); // Read a line of text input from the user
System.out.println("Hello, " + name + "!"); // Output a greeting
scanner.close(); // Close the scanner to free up resources
}
}
“`
Key Points:
- The
Scannerclass is essential for reading input in console-based Java applications. - Always remember to close the
Scannerobject usingscanner.close()to prevent resource leaks. - The
Scannerclass provides multiple methods to read different types of input, such asnextInt(),nextDouble(),nextLine(), etc.
In summary, import java.util.Scanner; allows your Java program to use the Scanner class for handling input, making it easier to interact with users or read data from files.
