How many objects exist just before this program stops running?

A good answer might be:

Two: the String object that contains "A Greeting!" and the HelloObject.

Here is a picture showing the objects in the program just before it stops running. Of course, when it stops running all the objects become inactive and are re-claimed by the operating system.

Notice how there is a way to find everything:

1. The main method can find the HelloObject through the reference in the variable anObject.
2. The main method activates the speak() method by anObject.speak().
3. The speak() method can find the String object using the variable greeting, which is part of the HelloObject object.
4. System.out.println( greeting ) in that method writes out the data in the String object.

Don't worry terribly much about all these details. Look them and the picture over a few times and then move on. Come back to this chapter in a few days when things have soaked in a bit.

QUESTION 21:

(Obvious question:) Can there be several HelloObject objects created in the main method?