# Java flash cards: Novice level

42 Java terms at the Novice level, as flash cards.

Updated: September 28, 2026

- [Study these as flash cards](https://www.ask-codey.com/decks/java/1/flash)
- [Play Memory with them](https://www.ask-codey.com/games/memory?category=java&level=1)

## Terms in this deck

- [.java File Extension](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/java-file-extension): The filename ending used for a Java source file.
- [Arithmetic Operators](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/arithmetic-operators-java): Symbols such as +, -, \*, /, and % that perform calculations.
- [Assignment](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/assignment-java): Storing a value in a variable with the = operator.
- [Block Comment](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/block-comment): A comment enclosed by /\* and \*/ that can cover several lines.
- [boolean](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/boolean-java): A primitive type whose only values are true and false.
- [char](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/char): A primitive type that stores one UTF-16 code unit.
- [Class](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/class-java): A blueprint that describes the data and behavior of objects.
- [Comment](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/comment-java): Text for people reading the code that the compiler ignores.
- [Comparison Operators](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/comparison-operators-java): Operators that compare two values and produce true or false.
- [Compilation](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/compilation): The step that checks Java source code and converts it into bytecode.
- [Compile Error](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/compile-error): A problem that prevents Java source code from being compiled.
- [Compiler (javac)](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/compiler-javac): The JDK tool that turns Java source code into bytecode.
- [Curly Braces](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/curly-braces): The { and } characters that surround a class, method, or other block.
- [Data Type](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/data-type-java): A rule describing what kind of value something can hold and what operations it supports.
- [Declaration](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/declaration): A statement that introduces a variable, method, class, or other named item.
- [double](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/double): A primitive type for numbers that can include a fractional part.
- [else if Statement](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/else-if-statement): An additional condition tested when earlier if conditions were false.
- [if Statement](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/if-statement-java): A statement that runs code only when its condition is true.
- [Increment Operator](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/increment-operator): The ++ operator, which adds one to a numeric variable.
- [Initialization](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/initialization): Giving a variable its first value when it is created.
- [int](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/int): A primitive type for whole numbers within a fixed range.
- [Java](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/java): A widely used programming language that runs on many kinds of computers through the Java Virtual Machine.
- [Java Development Kit (JDK)](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/java-development-kit-jdk): The tools needed to write, compile, and run Java programs.
- [Java Runtime Environment (JRE)](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/java-runtime-environment-jre): The software needed to run Java programs, including the JVM and standard libraries.
- [Java Virtual Machine (JVM)](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/java-virtual-machine-jvm): The engine that runs compiled Java bytecode on a particular computer.
- [Javadoc Comment](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/javadoc-comment): A structured comment used to generate documentation for Java code.
- [Literal](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/literal): A value written directly in source code, such as 42, true, or "hello".
- [Logical Operators](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/logical-operators-java): Operators that combine or reverse boolean conditions.
- [main Method](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/main-method): The usual starting point of a Java application.
- [Method](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/method-java): A named block of code that performs an action and can return a value.
- [Narrowing Conversion](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/narrowing-conversion): An explicit numeric conversion that may lose range or precision.
- [Primitive Type](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/primitive-type): One of Java's basic value types, such as int, double, char, or boolean.
- [Runtime Error](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/runtime-error): A problem that occurs while a compiled program is running.
- [Semicolon](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/semicolon): The punctuation mark that ends most Java statements.
- [Single-Line Comment](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/single-line-comment): A comment beginning with // and continuing to the end of the line.
- [Source File](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/source-file): A text file containing Java code for the compiler to read.
- [String](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/string-java): An object that stores an unchangeable sequence of characters.
- [switch Statement](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/switch-statement): A statement that selects a code path by matching one value against cases.
- [System.out.println()](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/system-out-println): A method that prints a value followed by a new line.
- [Type Casting](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/type-casting): Explicitly converting a value to another compatible type.
- [Variable](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/variable-java): A named place that stores a value a program can use or change.
- [Widening Conversion](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/widening-conversion): An automatic numeric conversion to a type that can represent a wider range of values.

[Read them in the glossary](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/subjects/java/novice)

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/decks/java/novice