InputStreamReader inStream = new InputStreamReader( System.in ) ; 
    BufferedReader stdin = new BufferedReader( inStream );

What is the variable inStream used for?

A good answer might be:

The variable is used to connect the InputStreamReader to the BufferedReader.

Once the connection is made, the variable is not used again. In fact, you don't need to use it at all because the connection can be made all in one line:

    BufferedReader stdin = 
        new BufferedReader( new  InputStreamReader( System.in ) );

If you want, you can think of this one very long command that means "get ready to read stuff in." The complete program is now:

import java.io.*;
class Echo
{
  public static void main (String[] args) throws IOException
  {
    BufferedReader stdin = 
        new BufferedReader( new  InputStreamReader( System.in ) );
   
    String inData;

    System.out.println("Enter the data:");
    inData = stdin.readLine();

    System.out.println("You entered:" + inData );
  }
}

This one statement takes up two lines. This is OK. Statements end with a semicolon, not at the end of a line. Use indenting to show when a long statement has been written on two (or more) lines.

QUESTION 12:

(Thought question: ) What do you think this statement does:

    inData = stdin.readLine();