J2SE Interview Questions and Answers 14

What is Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK) ?
A test suite, a set of tools, and other requirements used to certify an implementation of a particular Sun technology conformant both to the applicable specifications and to Sun or Sun-designated reference implementations.

What is thin client ?
A system that runs a very light operating system with no local system administration and executes applications delivered over the network.

What is 'this' ?
A Java keyword 'that' can be used to represent an instance of the class in which it appears. 'this' can be used to access class variables and methods.

What is thread ?
The basic unit of program execution. A process can have several threads running concurrently, each performing a different job, such as waiting for events or performing a time-consuming job that the program doesn't need to complete before going on. When a thread has finished its job, the thread is suspended or destroyed. See also process.

What is throw ?
A Java keyword that allows the user to throw an exception or any class that implements the "throwable" interface.

What is throws ?
A Java keyword used in method declarations that specify which exceptions are not handled within the method but rather passed to the next higher level of the program.

What is transaction ?
An atomic unit of work that modifies data. A transaction encloses one or more program statements, all of which either complete or roll back. Transactions enable multiple users to access the same data concurrently.

What is transaction isolation level ?
The degree to which the intermediate state of the data being modified by a transaction is visible to other concurrent transactions and data being modified by other transactions is visible to it.

What is transaction manager ?
Provides the services and management functions required to support transaction demarcation, transactional resource management, synchronization, and transaction context propagation.

What is transient ?
A keyword in the Java programming language that indicates that a field is not part of the serialized form of an object. When an object is serialized, the values of its transient fields are not included in the serial representation, while the values of its non-transient fields are included.

What is try ?
A Java keyword that defines a block of statements that may throw a Java language exception. If an exception is thrown, an optional catch block can handle specific exceptions thrown within the try block. Also, an optional finally block will be executed regardless of whether an exception is thrown or not.

What is type ?
A class or interface.

What is Unicode ?
A 16-bit character set defined by ISO 10646. See also ASCII. All source code in the Java programming environment is written in Unicode.

What is URI ?
Uniform Resource Identifier. A compact string of characters for identifying an abstract or physical resource. A URI is either a URL or a URN. URLs and URNs are concrete entities that actually exist; A URI is an abstract superclass.

What is URL ?
Uniform Resource Locator. A standard for writing a text reference to an arbitrary piece of data in the WWW. A URL looks like "protocol://host/localinfo" where protocol specifies a protocol to use to fetch the object (like HTTP or FTP), host specifies the Internet name of the host on which to find it, and localinfo is a string (often a file name) passed to the protocol handler on the remote host.

J2SE Interview Questions and Answers 13

What is SGML ?
Standardized Generalized Markup Language. An ISO/ANSI/ECMA standard that specifies a way to annotate text documents with information about types of sections of a document.

What is SOAP ?
The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) uses a combination of XML-based data structuring and the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to define a standardized method for invoking methods in objects distributed in diverse operating environments across the Internet.

What is SQL ?
Structured Query Language. The standardized relational database language for defining database objects and manipulating data.

What is static ?
A Java keyword used to define a variable as a class variable. Classes maintain one copy of class variables regardless of how many instances exist of that class. static can also be used to define a method as a class method. Class methods are invoked by the class instead of a specific instance, and can only operate on class variables.

What is static field ?
Another name for class variable.

What is static method ?
Another name for class method.

What is stream ?
A stream is simply a byte-stream of data that is sent from a sender to a receiver. There are two basic categories, so the java.io package includes two abstract classes (InputStream and OutputStream).

What is subclass ?
A class that is derived from a particular class, perhaps with one or more classes in between. See also superclass, supertype.

What is subtype ?
If type X extends or implements type Y, then X is a subtype of Y. See also supertype.

What is superclass ?
A class from which a particular class is derived, perhaps with one or more classes in between. See also subclass, subtype.

What is super ?
A Java keyword used to access members of a class inherited by the class in which it appears.

What is supertype ?
The supertypes of a type are all the interfaces and classes that are extended or implemented by that type. See also subtype, superclass.

What is switch ?
A Java keyword used to evaluate a variable that can later be matched with a value specified by the case keyword in order to execute a group of statements.

What is Swing ?
A collection of graphical user interface (GUI) components that runs uniformly on any native platform which supports the Java virtual machine*. Because they are written entirely in the Java programming language, these components may provide functionality above and beyond that provided by native-platform equivalents. (Contrast with AWT.)

What is synchronized ?
A keyword in the Java programming language that, when applied to a method or code block, guarantees that at most one thread at a time executes that code.

What is TCP/IP ?
Transmission Control Protocol based on IP. This is an Internet protocol that provides for the reliable delivery of streams of data from one host to another.

J2SE Interview Questions and Answers 15

What is URN ?
Uniform Resource Name. A unique identifier that identifies an entity, but doesn't tell where it is located. A system can use a URN to look up an entity locally before trying to find it on the Web. It also allows the Web location to change, while still allowing the entity to be found.

What is variable ?
An item of data named by an identifier. Each variable has a type, such as int or Object, and a scope. See also class variable, instance variable, local variable.

What is virtual machine ?
An abstract specification for a computing device that can be implemented in different ways, in software or hardware. You compile to the instruction set of a virtual machine much like you'd compile to the instruction set of a microprocessor. The Java virtual machine consists of a byte code instruction set, a set of registers, a stack, a garbage-collected heap, and an area for storing methods.

What is void ?
A Java keyword used in method declarations to specify that the method does not return any value. void can also be used as a nonfunctional statement.

What is volatile ?
A Java keyword used in variable declarations that specifies that the variable is modified asynchronously by concurrently running threads.

What is Web server ?
Software that provides services to access the Internet, an intranet, or an extranet. A Web server hosts Web sites, provides support for HTTP and other protocols, and executes server-side programs (such as CGI scripts or servlets) that perform certain functions.

What is while ?
A Java keyword used to declare a loop that iterates a block of statements. The loop's exit condition is specified as part of the while statement.

What is world readable files ?
Files on a file system that can be viewed (read) by any user. For example: files residing on Web servers can only be viewed by Internet users if their permissions have been set to world readable.

What is wrapper ?
An object that encapsulates and delegates to another object to alter its interface or behavior in some way.

What is XML ?
Extensible Markup Language. A markup language that allows you to define the tags (markup) needed to identify the data and text in XML documents.

What is ACID ?
The acronym for the four properties guaranteed by transactions: atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability.

What is Embedded Java Technology ?
The availability of Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition technology under a restrictive license agreement that allows a licensee to leverage certain Java technologies to create and deploy a closed-box application that exposes no APIs.

What is class method ?
A method that is invoked without reference to a particular object. Class methods affect the class as a whole, not a particular instance of the class. Also called a static method. See also instance method.

What is class variable ?
A data item associated with a particular class as a whole--not with particular instances of the class. Class variables are defined in class definitions. Also called a static field. See also instance variable.

What is constructor ?
A pseudo-method that creates an object. In the Java programming language, constructors are instance methods with the same name as their class. Constructors are invoked using the new keyword.

What is core packages ?
The required set of APIs in a Java platform edition which must be supported in any and all compatible implementations.

J2EE Interview Questions and Answers 2

What is "application client" ?
A first-tier J2EE client component that executes in its own Java virtual machine. Application clients have access to some J2EE platform APIs.

What is "application client container" ?
A container that supports application client components.

What is "application client module" ?
A software unit that consists of one or more classes and an application client deployment descriptor.

What is "application component provider" ?
A vendor that provides the Java classes that implement components' methods, JSP page definitions, and any required deployment descriptors.

What is "application configuration resource file" ?
An XML file used to configure resources for a Java Server Faces application, to define navigation rules for the application, and to register converters, Validator, listeners, renders, and components with the application.

What is "archiving" ?
The process of saving the state of an object and restoring it.

What is "asant" ?
A Java-based build tool that can be extended using Java classes. The configuration files are XML-based, calling out a target tree where various tasks get executed.

What is "attribute"?
A qualifier on an XML tag that provides additional information.

What is authentication ?
The process that verifies the identity of a user, device, or other entity in a computer system, usually as a prerequisite to allowing access to resources in a system. The Java servlet specification requires three types of authentication-basic, form-based, and mutual-and supports digest authentication.

What is authorization ?
The process by which access to a method or resource is determined. Authorization depends on the determination of whether the principal associated with a request through authentication is in a given security role. A security role is a logical grouping of users defined by the person who assembles the application. A deployer maps security roles to security identities. Security identities may be principals or groups in the operational environment.

What is authorization constraint ?
An authorization rule that determines who is permitted to access a Web resource collection.

What is B2B ?
B2B stands for Business-to-business.

What is backing bean ?
A JavaBeans component that corresponds to a JSP page that includes JavaServer Faces components. The backing bean defines properties for the components on the page and methods that perform processing for the component. This processing includes event handling, validation, and processing associated with navigation.

What is basic authentication ?
An authentication mechanism in which a Web server authenticates an entity via a user name and password obtained using the Web application's built-in authentication mechanism.

What is bean-managed persistence ?
The mechanism whereby data transfer between an entity bean's variables and a resource manager is managed by the entity bean.

What is bean-managed transaction ?
A transaction whose boundaries are defined by an enterprise bean.

What is binding (XML) ?
Generating the code needed to process a well-defined portion of XML data.

J2EE Interview Questions and Answers 1

What is J2EE?
J2EE is an environment for developing and deploying enterprise applications. The J2EE platform consists of a set of services, application programming interfaces (APIs), and protocols that provide the functionality for developing multitier, web-based applications.

What is the J2EE module?
A J2EE module consists of one or more J2EE components for the same container type and one component deployment descriptor of that type.

What are the components of J2EE application?
A J2EE component is a self-contained functional software unit that is assembled into a J2EE application with its related classes and files and communicates with other components. The J2EE specification defines the following J2EE components:
Application clients and applets are client components.
Java Servlet and JavaServer PagesTM (JSPTM) technology components are web components.
Enterprise JavaBeansTM (EJBTM) components (enterprise beans) are business components.
Resource adapter components provided by EIS and tool vendors.

What are the four types of J2EE modules?
1. Application client module
2. Web module
3. Enterprise JavaBeans module
4. Resource adapter module

What does application client module contain?
The application client module contains:
--class files,
--an application client deployment descriptor.
Application client modules are packaged as JAR files with a .jar extension.

What does web module contain?
The web module contains:
--JSP files,
--class files for servlets,
--GIF and HTML files, and
--a Web deployment descriptor.
Web modules are packaged as JAR files with a .war (Web ARchive) extension.

What are the differences between Ear, Jar and War files? Under what circumstances should we use each one?

There are no structural differences between the files; they are all archived using zip-jar compression. However, they are intended for different purposes.
--Jar files (files with a .jar extension) are intended to hold generic libraries of Java classes, resources, auxiliary files, etc.
--War files (files with a .war extension) are intended to contain complete Web applications. In this context, a Web application is defined as a single group of files, classes, resources, .jar files that can be packaged and accessed as one servlet context.
--Ear files (files with a .ear extension) are intended to contain complete enterprise applications. In this context, an enterprise application is defined as a collection of .jar files, resources, classes, and multiple Web applications.
Each type of file (.jar, .war, .ear) is processed uniquely by application servers, servlet containers, EJB containers, etc.

What is the difference between Session bean and Entity bean ?
The Session bean and Entity bean are two main parts of EJB container.
Session Bean
--represents a workflow on behalf of a client
--one-to-one logical mapping to a client.
--created and destroyed by a client
--not permanent objects
--lives its EJB container(generally) does not survive system shut down
--two types: stateless and stateful beans
Entity Bean
--represents persistent data and behavior of this data
--can be shared among multiple clients
--persists across multiple invocations
--findable permanent objects
--outlives its EJB container, survives system shutdown
--two types: container managed persistence(CMP) and bean managed persistence(BMP)

What is "applet" ?
A J2EE component that typically executes in a Web browser but can execute in a variety of other applications or devices that support the applet programming model.

What is "applet container" ?
A container that includes support for the applet programming model.

What is "application assembler" ?
A person who combines J2EE components and modules into deployable application units.

J2EE Interview Questions and Answers 3

What is binding (JavaServer Faces technology) ?
Wiring UI components to back-end data sources such as backing bean properties.

What is build file ?
The XML file that contains one or more asant targets. A target is a set of tasks you want to be executed. When starting asant, you can select which targets you want to have executed. When no target is given, the project's default target is executed.

What is business logic ?
The code that implements the functionality of an application. In the Enterprise JavaBeans architecture, this logic is implemented by the methods of an enterprise bean.

What is business method ?
A method of an enterprise bean that implements the business logic or rules of an application.

What is callback methods ?
Component methods called by the container to notify the component of important events in its life cycle.

What is caller ?
Same as caller principal.

What is caller principal ?
The principal that identifies the invoker of the enterprise bean method.

What is cascade delete ?
A deletion that triggers another deletion. A cascade delete can be specified for an entity bean that has container-managed persistence.

What is CDATA ?
A predefined XML tag for character data that means "don't interpret these characters," as opposed to parsed character data (PCDATA), in which the normal rules of XML syntax apply. CDATA sections are typically used to show examples of XML syntax.

What is certificate authority ?
A trusted organization that issues public key certificates and provides identification to the bearer.

What is client-certificate authentication ?
An authentication mechanism that uses HTTP over SSL, in which the server and, optionally, the client authenticate each other with a public key certificate that conforms to a standard that is defined by X.509 Public Key Infrastructure.

What is comment ?
In an XML document, text that is ignored unless the parser is specifically told to recognize it.

What is commit ?
The point in a transaction when all updates to any resources involved in the transaction are made permanent.

What is component contract ?
The contract between a J2EE component and its container. The contract includes life-cycle management of the component, a context interface that the instance uses to obtain various information and services from its container, and a list of services that every container must provide for its components.

What is component-managed sign-on ?
A mechanism whereby security information needed for signing on to a resource is provided by an application component.

What is connector ?
A standard extension mechanism for containers that provides connectivity to enterprise information systems. A connector is specific to an enterprise information system and consists of a resource adapter and application development tools for enterprise information system connectivity. The resource adapter is plugged in to a container through its support for system-level contracts defined in the Connector architecture.

What is container-managed persistence ?
The mechanism whereby data transfer between an entity bean's variables and a resource manager is managed by the entity bean's container.

J2EE Interview Questions and Answers 5

What is deployment descriptor ?
An XML file provided with each module and J2EE application that describes how they should be deployed. The deployment descriptor directs a deployment tool to deploy a module or application with specific container options and describes specific configuration requirements that a deployer must resolve.

What is destination ?
A JMS administered object that encapsulates the identity of a JMS queue or topic. See point-to-point messaging system, publish/subscribe messaging system.

What is digest authentication ?
An authentication mechanism in which a Web application authenticates itself to a Web server by sending the server a message digest along with its HTTP request message. The digest is computed by employing a one-way hash algorithm to a concatenation of the HTTP request message and the client's password. The digest is typically much smaller than the HTTP request and doesn't contain the password.

What is distributed application ?
An application made up of distinct components running in separate runtime environments, usually on different platforms connected via a network. Typical distributed applications are two-tier (client-server), three-tier (client-middleware-server), and multitier (client-multiple middleware-multiple servers).

What is document ?
In general, an XML structure in which one or more elements contains text intermixed with subelements.

What is Document Object Model ?
An API for accessing and manipulating XML documents as tree structures. DOM provides platform-neutral, language-neutral interfaces that enables programs and scripts to dynamically access and modify content and structure in XML documents.

What is document root ?
The top-level directory of a WAR. The document root is where JSP pages, client-side classes and archives, and static Web resources are stored.

What is DTD ?
Document type definition. An optional part of the XML document prolog, as specified by the XML standard. The DTD specifies constraints on the valid tags and tag sequences that can be in the document. The DTD has a number of shortcomings, however, and this has led to various schema proposals. For example, the DTD entry says that the XML element called username contains parsed character data-that is, text alone, with no other structural elements under it. The DTD includes both the local subset, defined in the current file, and the external subset, which consists of the definitions contained in external DTD files that are referenced in the local subset using a parameter entity.

What is durable subscription ?
In a JMS publish/subscribe messaging system, a subscription that continues to exist whether or not there is a current active subscriber object. If there is no active subscriber, the JMS provider retains the subscription's messages until they are received by the subscription or until they expire.

What is EAR file ?
Enterprise Archive file. A JAR archive that contains a J2EE application.

What is ebXML ?
Electronic Business XML. A group of specifications designed to enable enterprises to conduct business through the exchange of XML-based messages. It is sponsored by OASIS and the United Nations Centre for the Facilitation of Procedures and Practices in Administration, Commerce and Transport (U.N./CEFACT).

What is EJB ?
Enterprise JavaBeans.

What is EJB container ?
A container that implements the EJB component contract of the J2EE architecture. This contract specifies a runtime environment for enterprise beans that includes security, concurrency, life-cycle management, transactions, deployment, naming, and other services. An EJB container is provided by an EJB or J2EE server.

What is EJB container provider ?
A vendor that supplies an EJB container.

What is EJB context ?
A vendor that supplies an EJB container. An object that allows an enterprise bean to invoke services provided by the container and to obtain the information about the caller of a client-invoked method.