Is a line in a Java program the same thing as a statement?

Question

I'm a Java noob. I've only used it for a few days and I'm still trying to figure it all out. In a program, is a line the same thing as a statement?

The one that is most helpful to you. If they are all equally helpful, typically the first answer posted is accepted. — Matt Ball, Sep 18 '11 at 17:25
@Benny Make a program and use `Random` to let the program chooses the one you will accept ;) — Eng.Fouad, Sep 18 '11 at 17:25
Accept the oldest edited answer which most closely clears your doubt. — Hari Menon, Sep 18 '11 at 17:26
@Benny hover your mouse over the "answered X mins ago" to see the timestamp. I think it was mine... — Matt Ball, Sep 18 '11 at 17:28
@Matt Ball I've done that, and it is indeed your answer. However, I'm now debating between fireshadow's answer and yours. I sure wish I could accept two... :( — Benny, Sep 18 '11 at 17:33
@Matt Ball I've accepted fireshadow's answer, but as soon as I can upvote I will upvote yours. :) — Benny, Sep 18 '11 at 17:41
Voting up requires 15 rep: http://stackoverflow.com/privileges/vote-up ...there you go `:)` — Matt Ball, Sep 18 '11 at 17:42
@Matt Ball Is there a bug in the system? It says `Please login or register to vote for this post` and doesn't let me upvote. :( — Benny, Sep 18 '11 at 17:48
let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/3576/discussion-between-matt-ball-and-benny) — Matt Ball, Sep 18 '11 at 17:51

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:23

5

No. I can write:

int x = 1; int y = 2;

That's one line, and two statements.

answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:23

Eric

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score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:22

In a program, is a line the same thing as a statement?

No.

Want to know the difference? Start with the JLS §14.5: Blocks and Statements:

Statement:
        StatementWithoutTrailingSubstatement
        LabeledStatement
        IfThenStatement
        IfThenElseStatement
        WhileStatement
        ForStatement

StatementWithoutTrailingSubstatement:
        Block
        EmptyStatement
        ExpressionStatement
        AssertStatement
        SwitchStatement
        DoStatement
        BreakStatement
        ContinueStatement
        ReturnStatement
        SynchronizedStatement
        ThrowStatement
        TryStatement

StatementNoShortIf:
        StatementWithoutTrailingSubstatement
        LabeledStatementNoShortIf
        IfThenElseStatementNoShortIf
        WhileStatementNoShortIf
        ForStatementNoShortIf

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 20 '12 at 18:15

No. The Java compiler doesn't look at lines, spacing, or other formatting issues when compiling a program. It just wants to see the ; at the end of each statement. This line would work just fine:

int i = 13; i += 23;

However, doing things like this can--and most likely will--cause readability issues with the source code. For this reason, it isn't recommended.

It is also possible for a single statement to span multiple lines:

int i =
    13;

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:23

According to Java grammar:

Statement:
    Block
    if ParExpression Statement [else Statement]
    for ( ForInitOpt   ;   [Expression]   ;   ForUpdateOpt ) Statement
    while ParExpression Statement
    do Statement while ParExpression   ; 
    try Block ( Catches | [Catches] finally Block )
    switch ParExpression { SwitchBlockStatementGroups }
    synchronized ParExpression Block
    return [Expression] ; 
    throw Expression   ; 
    break [Identifier]
    continue [Identifier]
    ; 
    ExpressionStatement
    Identifier   :   Statement

Based on this you can easily see that one statement can span multiple lines but also single line can host multiple statements. Also note that statement is a very broad term.

Just a heads up, that's not the most recent version of the JLS. — Matt Ball, Sep 18 '11 at 17:26

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:22

2

This line includes two statements:

j = 5; j += 3;

So, a line is not necessarily a statement...

answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:22

Costis Aivalis

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score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:23

2

Only by common practice, and for readability. In Java statements are terminated with semicolons, or in the case of blocks, by pairs of curlybraces ( { } ).

answered Sep 18 '11 at 17:23

Mike Sokolov

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Is a line in a Java program the same thing as a statement?

6 Answers6