Description: The Integer class in Java is a wrapper class that encapsulates a primitive int value, allowing this value to be treated as an object. This is particularly useful in situations where an object is required instead of a primitive type, such as in Java collections that can only store objects. The Integer class provides methods for converting between primitive types and objects, as well as for performing mathematical operations and comparisons. Additionally, it includes useful constants like Integer.MAX_VALUE and Integer.MIN_VALUE, which represent the limits of the int type. The class also allows for the conversion of strings to integers and vice versa, facilitating data manipulation in applications that require text input and output. In summary, Integer is fundamental for programming in Java, as it combines the efficiency of primitive types with the flexibility of objects, enabling developers to handle numerical data more effectively.
History: The Integer class was introduced in Java 1.0, released in 1996. Since its inception, it has evolved alongside the language, incorporating new functionalities and improvements in each version. Java was designed by Sun Microsystems, and the inclusion of wrapper classes like Integer was part of an effort to provide a more robust and flexible object-oriented programming.
Uses: The Integer class is primarily used in situations where an object is needed instead of a primitive type, such as in Java collections (e.g., ArrayList
Examples: An example of using the Integer class is converting a string to an integer: Integer.parseInt(“123”). Another example is storing integers in a list: List
