Java likes to separate the men from the boys, the hair from your head, and the code that you write. To do this, we use separators (didn't see that coming did you?).

Separators

Below is a list of separators and their functions.

How it Looks	Name	Function
.	Period	Separates package names from subpackages and classes. Can also be used to separate a variable or method from a reference variable.
;	Semicolon	Ends statements.
,	Comma	Separates identifiers when declaring variables.
{}	Braces	No not for your teeth. Contains the values of initialized arrays. Also for declining a block of code, classes, methods, local scopes.
[]	Brackets	For declaration of array types or dereferencing array values.
()	Parentheses	Holds lists of parameters in method definition, defining precedence in expressions, holding expressions in control statements, and encasing cast types

Keywords

As part of its diverse vocabulary, Java has 49 reserved keywords. These keywords cannot be used to name a variable, class, or method, and will not magically open doors (rely on good ole' "open sesame" for that one). You want to see what they look like in a table? Well here they are:

abstract	assert	boolean	break	byte	case	catch
char	class	const	continue	default	do	double
else	extends	final	finally	float	for	goto
if	implements	import	instanceof	int	interface	long
native	new	package	private	protected	public	return
short	static	strictfp	super	switch	synchronized	this
throw	throws	transient	try	void	volatile	while

Final Notes

That concludes this episode of Beginning Java Programs. In the next article we will discuss Operators and putting those lazy variables to work.