{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2017-07-12T23:24:32+00:00","modifiedTime":"2017-07-12T23:24:32+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:20+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Programming & Web Design","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33592"},"slug":"programming-web-design","categoryId":33592},{"name":"Java","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33602"},"slug":"java","categoryId":33602}],"title":"Java Literals","strippedTitle":"java literals","slug":"java-literals","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"In addition to its keywords, three of the words you use in a Java program are called literals . Each literal has a specific meaning in the language. You can't u","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"In addition to its keywords, three of the words you use in a Java program are called <em>literals</em>. Each literal has a specific meaning in the language. You can't use a literal for anything other than its pre-assigned meaning.\r\n\r\nThe following table lists Java's literal words.\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><strong>Literal</strong></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\"><strong>What It Does</strong></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><code>false</code></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\">One of the two values that a <code>boolean </code>expression can possibly have.</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><code>null</code></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\">The \"nothing\" value. If you intend to have an expression refer to an object of some kind, but the expression doesn't refer to any object, the expression's value is<code> null</code>.</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><code>true</code></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\">One of the two values that a <code>boolean </code>expression can possibly have.</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\nThe keywords and literal words are all called <em>reserved</em> words because each of these words is reserved for special use in the Java programming language.","description":"In addition to its keywords, three of the words you use in a Java program are called <em>literals</em>. Each literal has a specific meaning in the language. You can't use a literal for anything other than its pre-assigned meaning.\r\n\r\nThe following table lists Java's literal words.\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><strong>Literal</strong></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\"><strong>What It Does</strong></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><code>false</code></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\">One of the two values that a <code>boolean </code>expression can possibly have.</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td width=\"195\"><code>null</code></td>\r\n<td width=\"383\">The \"nothing\" value. 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Java Literals

By: Barry A. Burd and

Updated: 07-12-2017

From The Book: Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies

Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies

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In addition to its keywords, three of the words you use in a Java program are called literals. Each literal has a specific meaning in the language. You can't use a literal for anything other than its pre-assigned meaning.

The following table lists Java's literal words.

Literal	What It Does
`false`	One of the two values that a `boolean` expression can possibly have.
`null`	The "nothing" value. If you intend to have an expression refer to an object of some kind, but the expression doesn't refer to any object, the expression's value is `null`.
`true`	One of the two values that a `boolean` expression can possibly have.

The keywords and literal words are all called reserved words because each of these words is reserved for special use in the Java programming language.

About This Article

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Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies ,

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Dr. Barry Burd holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois. Barry is also the author of Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies, Java for Android For Dummies, and Flutter For Dummies.

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