Java Program Statements

As you saw in the CowboyHat class example, the code for each method in the class appears between braces, and it consists of program statements. A semicolon terminates each program statement. A statement in Java can spread over several lines if necessary, since the end of each statement is determined by the semicolon, not by the end of a line. Here is a Java program statement:

hatOn = false;

If you wanted to, you could also write this as:

hatOn = false;

You can generally include spaces and tabs, and spread your statements over multiple lines to enhance readability if it is a particularly long statement, but sensible constraints apply. You can’t put a space in the middle of a name for instance. If you write hat On, for example, the compiler will read this as two words.