Java Basics

class
A grouping of "variables" and "methods".
In the example below, Cat (line 1) is a class.

object
An "instance" or of a class. Below (line 14) we create a Cat named patches.

variable
Data stored in the class with a given name.
Below (line 2 & 3) we have the variables animalType and animalColor.

method
A grouping of java code with a name, list of zero to n variables in, and zero or one variables out.
Below (line 8) getCatsColor is a method.

1 class Cat {
2     private String animalType = "feline";
3     private String catColor;
4     Cat(String colorIn)
5     {
6         catColor = colorIn;    
7     }
8     public String getCatsColor()
9     {
10        return catColor;  
11    }
12    
13    public static void main (String[] argsIn) {
14        Cat patches = new Cat("calico");
15    }
16 }