Java Swing – Login Class

Word-by-Word Code Notes

[Link] | Class 1 of many | Revision Ready ■

These notes explain every keyword, symbol and method used in the [Link] class of the Quiz
Application project. Each section shows the actual code line followed by a word-by-word breakdown so
you can revise quickly.

1 | Package Declaration
package [Link];

package Keyword that organises .java files into named groups (like folders).

quiz The top-level folder / package name chosen for this project.

. Separator — means 'inside'. Reads as: quiz → inside → application.

application Sub-folder / sub-package name inside quiz.

; Semicolon — every Java statement must end with this.

■ Java expects this file to be saved at: quiz/application/[Link]

2 | Import Statements
import [Link].*;

import Keyword — brings classes from another package into this file.

javax Java extension package (extra/advanced tools beyond core java.*).

swing Sub-package providing all GUI (window) components.

.* Wildcard — import ALL classes inside [Link] at once.

; End of statement.

■ swing gives you: JFrame, JButton, JLabel, JTextField, JOptionPane, ImageIcon …

import [Link].*;

java Core Java package namespace.

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 1

awt Abstract Window Toolkit — provides Color, Font, Graphics tools.

.* Import all classes inside [Link].

import [Link].*;

event Sub-package of awt — handles user actions like button clicks and key presses.

.* Imports ActionListener, ActionEvent, and all other event classes.

3 | Class Declaration
public class Login extends JFrame implements ActionListener {

public Access modifier — this class can be used from anywhere in the project.

class Keyword used to define / create a new class.

Login The name of this class (must match the filename [Link]).

extends Inheritance keyword — Login inherits all features of JFrame.

JFrame Built-in Swing class that creates a desktop window.

implements Used to adopt an interface — the class must provide its methods.

ActionListener Interface from [Link] — requires actionPerformed() method.

{ Opening brace — starts the body of the class.

■ extends JFrame → Login IS a window. implements ActionListener → Login can handle button clicks.

4 | Instance Variables (Fields)

private JButton rules, back;

private Access modifier — only code inside Login can see these variables.

JButton Swing class that creates a clickable button.

rules Variable name for the 'Rules' button object.

, Comma — lets you declare multiple variables of the same type in one line.

back Variable name for the 'Back' button object.

; End of statement.

private JTextField tfname;

JTextField Swing class — provides a single-line text input box for the user.

tfname Variable name. 'tf' prefix = text field, 'name' = what it collects.

5 | Constructor

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 2

public Login() {

public The constructor is accessible from outside — needed to call new Login().

Login() Constructor name must match class name exactly. No return type.

{ Starts the constructor body — everything here runs when new Login() is called.

■ Constructors run automatically when you write: new Login();

6 | Background Colour & Layout

getContentPane().setBackground([Link]);

getContentPane() Returns the main drawing area of the JFrame window.

.setBackground() Method — changes the background colour of that area.

[Link] Built-in constant from [Link] representing white.

setLayout(null);

setLayout() Sets how components are arranged inside the window.

No automatic layout manager — you place every component manually with

null
setBounds().

7 | Image Loading (try-catch)

try {
ImageIcon i1 = new
ImageIcon([Link]("icons/[Link]"));
JLabel image = new JLabel(i1);
[Link](0, 0, 600, 500);
add(image);
} catch (Exception e) {
[Link]("Icon not found, continuing with text only.");
}

try { } Block that attempts code which might cause an error (exception).

ImageIcon Swing class used to hold / represent an image file.

i1 Variable name for the ImageIcon object.

new Keyword — creates a new object in memory.

ClassLoader Java class that loads resources (files) bundled with the project.

.getSystemResource() Searches the classpath for the given file path and returns it.

"icons/[Link]" Relative path to the image file inside the project folder.

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 3

JLabel Swing component — can display text OR an image.

image Variable name for the JLabel that will show the picture.

new JLabel(i1) Creates a JLabel and puts the ImageIcon i1 inside it.

.setBounds(0,0,600,500
Sets x=0, y=0 (top-left corner), width=600px, height=500px.
)

add(image) Adds the image label to the JFrame window so it becomes visible.

catch (Exception e) Catches any error that occurred inside try { }. 'e' stores the error.

[Link]() Prints a message to the console/terminal for debugging.

8 | Heading Label
JLabel heading = new JLabel("Simple Minds");
[Link](750, 60, 300, 45);
[Link](new Font("Viner Hand ITC", [Link], 40));
[Link](new Color(30, 144, 254));
add(heading);

JLabel heading Creates a label that displays the text 'Simple Minds'.

.setBounds(750,60,300,
Positions label: x=750, y=60 from top-left; 300px wide, 45px tall.
45)

.setFont() Changes the font style of the label's text.

new Font("Viner Hand

"Viner Hand ITC" = font family | [Link] = bold style | 40 = size in points.
ITC", [Link], 40)

.setForeground() Sets the TEXT colour of the label.

new Color(30, 144, Creates a custom colour using RGB values: Red=30, Green=144, Blue=254 (bright
254) blue).

add(heading) Adds the heading label to the window.

9 | Name Label & Text Field

JLabel name = new JLabel("Enter your name");
[Link](810, 150, 300, 20);
[Link](new Font("Mongolian Baiti", [Link], 18));
[Link](new Color(30, 144, 254));
add(name);

tfname = new JTextField();

[Link](735, 200, 300, 25);
[Link](new Font("Times New Roman", [Link], 20));

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 4

add(tfname);

new JLabel("Enter your

Creates a label with the prompt text.
name")

tfname = new
Creates an empty input box. tfname was declared earlier as a field.
JTextField()

.setFont(new
Font("Times New
Sets the font of text the user types in the box.
Roman", [Link],
20))

10 | Rules & Back Buttons

rules = new JButton("Rules");
[Link](735, 270, 120, 25);
[Link](new Color(30, 144, 254));
[Link]([Link]);
[Link](this);
add(rules);

new JButton("Rules") Creates a button labelled 'Rules'.

.setBackground() Sets the button's background colour.

.setForeground(Color.W
Sets the button's text colour to white.
HITE)

.addActionListener(thi
Registers a listener so clicks are detected. 'this' = current Login object.
s)

add(rules) Adds the button to the window.

■ The Back button uses identical code with variable name 'back' and label 'Back'. Both buttons call addActionListener(this)
so both are handled in actionPerformed().

11 | Window Settings
setSize(1200, 500);
setLocation(200, 150);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setVisible(true);

setSize(1200, 500) Sets window width=1200px and height=500px.

setLocation(200, 150) Positions the window 200px from left and 150px from top of screen.

setDefaultCloseOperati
When user closes the window, the entire Java program also stops.
on(EXIT_ON_CLOSE)

JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE Constant value (0) that tells JFrame to call [Link]() on close.

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 5

setVisible(true) Makes the window actually appear on screen. Without this, window is hidden.

12 | @Override & actionPerformed Method

@Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {

Annotation — tells the compiler this method replaces a method from an

@Override
interface/parent.

public Accessible anywhere — required by ActionListener interface.

void This method returns no value.

actionPerformed The exact method name required by ActionListener. Runs when a button is clicked.

ActionEvent Class that stores info about which button was clicked, when, etc.

ae Parameter variable that holds the ActionEvent object for this click.

13 | Rules Button Logic

if ([Link]() == rules) {
String name = [Link]().trim();
if ([Link]()) {
[Link](this, "Error: Name field cannot be empty!",
"Validation Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
} else {
setVisible(false);
new Rules(name);
}
}

[Link]() Returns the object (button) that triggered the click event.

== rules Checks if that object IS the rules button variable.

[Link]() Reads whatever the user typed inside the text field.

.trim() Removes leading and trailing spaces from the text.

[Link]() Returns true if the string has no characters (length = 0).

[Link]
Displays a pop-up dialog box with a message.
eDialog()

this Refers to the current Login window (parent for the dialog).

"Validation Error" Title shown in the dialog's title bar.

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 6

JOptionPane.ERROR_MESS
Constant that shows a red error icon on the dialog.
AGE

setVisible(false) Hides the current Login window.

new Rules(name) Creates a new Rules window and passes the player's name to it.

14 | Back Button Logic

} else if ([Link]() == back) {
setVisible(false);
[Link](0);
}

else if Checks this condition only if the earlier 'if' was false.

[Link]() == back Checks whether the Back button was clicked.

setVisible(false) Hides the window.

[Link](0) Completely shuts down the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Program ends. 0 = no error.

15 | main Method — Program Entry Point

public static void main(String[] args) {
new Login();
}

public Accessible by the JVM from outside — required for main.

static Belongs to the class, not an object — JVM can call it without creating an instance.

void Returns nothing.

main Special reserved name — JVM always looks for this method to start the program.

Array of strings — stores any command-line arguments passed when running the
String[] args
program.

new Login() Creates a Login object → constructor runs → window opens. Program starts here.

■ Quick Revision Summary

Concept One-line Reminder

package Organises files into folders

import Brings classes from other packages

extends JFrame Makes Login a window

implements ActionListener Enables button-click handling

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 7

Constructor Login() Runs when new Login() is called; builds the whole UI

setLayout(null) Manual positioning with setBounds()

setBounds(x,y,w,h) Positions a component at (x,y) with size w×h

addActionListener(this) Connects a button to actionPerformed()

actionPerformed(ae) Runs when any registered button is clicked

[Link]() Tells you which button was clicked

[Link]() Shows a pop-up message/error dialog

[Link](0) Closes the entire program

new Rules(name) Opens the next screen and passes the player name

Java Swing – Login Class Notes | Page 8