AWT Event Handling

Change in the state of an object is known as event i.e. event describes the change in state of source. Events are generated as result of user interaction with the graphical user interface components. For example, clicking on a button, moving the mouse, entering a character through keyboard,selecting an item from list, scrolling the page are the activities that causes an event to happen. 
The events can be broadly classified into two categories:
Foreground Events - Those  events which require the direct interaction of user.They are generated as consequences of a person interacting with the graphical  components in  Graphical User Interface. For example, clicking on a button, moving the mouse, entering a character through keyboard,selecting an item from list, scrolling the page etc.
Foreground Events - Those  events which require the direct interaction of user.They are generated as consequences of a person interacting with the graphical  components in  Graphical User Interface. For example, clicking on a button, moving the mouse, entering a character through keyboard,selecting an item from list, scrolling the page etc.
Background Events - Those events that  require the interaction of end user are known as background events. Operating system interrupts, hardware or software failure, timer expires, an operation completion are the example of background events.
Background Events - Those events that  require the interaction of end user are known as background events. Operating system interrupts, hardware or software failure, timer expires, an operation completion are the example of background events.
Event Handling is the mechanism that controls the event and decides what should happen if an event occurs. This mechanism have the code which is known as  event handler that is executed when an event occurs. Java Uses the Delegation Event Model to handle the events. This model defines the standard mechanism to generate and handle the events.Let's have a brief introduction to this model.
The Delegation Event Model  has the following key participants namely:
Source - The source is an object on which event occurs. Source is responsible for providing information of the occurred event to it's handler. Java provide as with classes for source object.
Source - The source is an object on which event occurs. Source is responsible for providing information of the occurred event to it's handler. Java provide as with classes for source object.
Listener - It is also known as event handler.Listener is responsible for generating response to an event. From java implementation point of view the listener is also an object. Listener waits until it receives an event. Once the event is received , the listener process the event an then returns. 
Listener - It is also known as event handler.Listener is responsible for generating response to an event. From java implementation point of view the listener is also an object. Listener waits until it receives an event. Once the event is received , the listener process the event an then returns. 
The benefit of this approach is that the user interface logic is completely separated from the logic that generates the event.
The user interface element is able to delegate the processing of an event to the separate piece of code. In this model ,Listener needs to be registered with the source object so that the listener can receive the event notification. This is an efficient way of handling the event because the event notifications are sent only to those listener  that want to receive them.
The User clicks the button and the event is generated. 
The User clicks the button and the event is generated. 
Now the object of concerned event class is created automatically and information about the source and the event get populated with in same object. 
Now the object of concerned event class is created automatically and information about the source and the event get populated with in same object. 
Event object is forwarded to the method of registered listener class. 
Event object is forwarded to the method of registered listener class. 
the method is now get executed and returns. 
the method is now get executed and returns. 
In order to design a listener class we have to develop some listener interfaces.These Listener interfaces forecast some public abstract callback methods which must be implemented by the listener class.
In order to design a listener class we have to develop some listener interfaces.These Listener interfaces forecast some public abstract callback methods which must be implemented by the listener class.
If you do not implement the any if the predefined interfaces then your class can not act as a listener class for a source object.
If you do not implement the any if the predefined interfaces then your class can not act as a listener class for a source object.
These are the methods that are provided by API provider and are defined by the application programmer and invoked by the application developer. Here the callback methods represents an event method. In response to an event java jre will fire callback method. All such callback methods are provided in listener interfaces.
If a component wants some listener will listen to it's events the the source must register itself to the listener.
Create the following java program using any editor of your choice in say D:/ > AWT > com > tutorialspoint > gui >
package com.tutorialspoint.gui;

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class AwtControlDemo {

   private Frame mainFrame;
   private Label headerLabel;
   private Label statusLabel;
   private Panel controlPanel;

   public AwtControlDemo(){
      prepareGUI();
   }

   public static void main(String[] args){
      AwtControlDemo  awtControlDemo = new AwtControlDemo();
      awtControlDemo.showEventDemo();
   }

   private void prepareGUI(){
      mainFrame = new Frame("Java AWT Examples");
      mainFrame.setSize(400,400);
      mainFrame.setLayout(new GridLayout(3, 1));
      mainFrame.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
         public void windowClosing(WindowEvent windowEvent){
            System.exit(0);
         }        
      });    
      headerLabel = new Label();
      headerLabel.setAlignment(Label.CENTER);
      statusLabel = new Label();        
      statusLabel.setAlignment(Label.CENTER);
      statusLabel.setSize(350,100);

      controlPanel = new Panel();
      controlPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());

      mainFrame.add(headerLabel);
      mainFrame.add(controlPanel);
      mainFrame.add(statusLabel);
      mainFrame.setVisible(true);  
   }

   private void showEventDemo(){
      headerLabel.setText("Control in action: Button"); 

      Button okButton = new Button("OK");
      Button submitButton = new Button("Submit");
      Button cancelButton = new Button("Cancel");

      okButton.setActionCommand("OK");
      submitButton.setActionCommand("Submit");
      cancelButton.setActionCommand("Cancel");

      okButton.addActionListener(new ButtonClickListener()); 
      submitButton.addActionListener(new ButtonClickListener()); 
      cancelButton.addActionListener(new ButtonClickListener()); 

      controlPanel.add(okButton);
      controlPanel.add(submitButton);
      controlPanel.add(cancelButton);       

      mainFrame.setVisible(true);  
   }

   private class ButtonClickListener implements ActionListener{
      public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
         String command = e.getActionCommand();  
         if( command.equals( "OK" ))  {
            statusLabel.setText("Ok Button clicked.");
         }
         else if( command.equals( "Submit" ) )  {
            statusLabel.setText("Submit Button clicked."); 
         }
         else  {
            statusLabel.setText("Cancel Button clicked.");
         }  	
      }		
   }
}
Compile the program using command prompt. Go to D:/ > AWT  and type the following command.
D:\AWT>javac com\tutorialspoint\gui\AwtControlDemo.java
If no error comes that means compilation is successful. Run the program using following command.
D:\AWT>java com.tutorialspoint.gui.AwtControlDemo
Verify the following output

    13 Lectures 
     2 hours 

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