Understanding Java syntax and jargon

Throughout this book, we will use plain English to discuss some technical things. You will never be asked to read a technical explanation of a Java or Android concept that has not been previously explained in non-technical language.

So far, on a few occasions I have asked that you accept a simplified explanation to offer a fuller explanation at a more appropriate time, as I have done with classes and methods.

Having said that, the Java and Android communities are full of people who speak in technical terms, and to join in and learn from these communities, you need to understand the terms they use. So, the approach this book takes is to learn a concept or appreciate an idea using entirely plain-speaking language, but at the same time introduce the jargon/technical term as part of the learning.

Java syntax is the way we put together the language elements of Java to produce code that works in the Dalvik virtual machine (VM). The Java syntax...