Object expressions (anonymous objects) in Kotlin - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Using Object Expressions (Anonymous Objects) in Kotlin

📖 Scenario: Imagine you are building a simple notification system. You want to create a quick way to handle notifications without creating a full class for each type.

🎯 Goal: You will create an anonymous object using Kotlin's object expression to handle a notification message and display it.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create an anonymous object with a property and a function

Use the object expression to hold notification data

Call the function inside the anonymous object to display the message

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Anonymous objects are useful when you need a quick object with some behavior but don't want to create a full class. For example, handling callbacks or simple event listeners.

💼 Career

Understanding object expressions helps you write concise Kotlin code, especially in Android development and other Kotlin-based projects where quick, temporary objects are common.

1

Create an anonymous object with a message

Create a variable called notification and assign it an anonymous object with a message property set to the string "Hello, Kotlin!".

Kotlin

// Create the anonymous object called notification with message property
// Your code here

Hint

Use val notification = object { val message = "Hello, Kotlin!" } to create the anonymous object.

2

Add a function to display the message

Add a function called show inside the notification anonymous object that prints the message property.

Kotlin

val notification = object {
    val message = "Hello, Kotlin!"
    // Add function show() here
    // Your code here
}

Hint

Define fun show() { println(message) } inside the object.

3

Call the show function

Call the show function on the notification object to display the message.

Kotlin

val notification = object {
    val message = "Hello, Kotlin!"
    fun show() {
        println(message)
    }
}

// Call the show() function here
// Your code here

Hint

Use notification.show() to call the function.

4

Print the output

Run the program and print the output of calling notification.show().

Kotlin

val notification = object {
    val message = "Hello, Kotlin!"
    fun show() {
        println(message)
    }
}

notification.show()  // This prints the message

Hint

The output should be exactly Hello, Kotlin!

Practice

1. What is an object expression in Kotlin?

easy

A. A named class declaration

B. A way to create an anonymous object with properties and functions

C. A function that returns a string

D. A variable declaration with a fixed value

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand object expressions

   Object expressions create unnamed objects on the spot with properties and functions.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other options

   Named classes, functions, and variables are different concepts and do not create anonymous objects.

3. Final Answer:

   A way to create an anonymous object with properties and functions -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Object expression = anonymous object [OK]

Hint: Anonymous objects = quick unnamed objects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing object expressions with named classes
• Thinking object expressions are functions
• Assuming object expressions are variables

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create an anonymous object in Kotlin?

easy

A. val obj = object() { val x = 10 }

B. val obj = class { val x = 10 }

C. val obj = object { val x = 10 }

D. val obj = fun() { val x = 10 }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Kotlin object expression syntax

   The correct syntax uses object { ... } without parentheses.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   val obj = object { val x = 10 } matches the correct syntax. val obj = class { val x = 10 } uses class which is invalid here. val obj = fun() { val x = 10 } uses fun() which is a function, not an object. val obj = object() { val x = 10 } incorrectly adds parentheses after object.

3. Final Answer:

   val obj = object { val x = 10 } -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax = object { ... } [OK]

Hint: Use 'object { }' without parentheses for anonymous objects [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parentheses after 'object'
• Using 'class' instead of 'object'
• Confusing functions with object expressions

3. What will be the output of this Kotlin code?

val obj = object {
    val name = "Alice"
    fun greet() = "Hello, $name!"
}
println(obj.greet())

medium

A. Runtime error

B. Hello, name!

C. Compilation error

D. Hello, Alice!

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the anonymous object

   The object has a property name with value "Alice" and a function greet() that returns "Hello, $name!".

2. Step 2: Evaluate the print statement

   Calling obj.greet() returns "Hello, Alice!" which is printed.

3. Final Answer:

   Hello, Alice! -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   obj.greet() = "Hello, Alice!" [OK]

Hint: Object properties accessed inside functions print correctly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting variable name printed instead of value
• Thinking anonymous objects cause errors
• Confusing string interpolation syntax

4. Identify the error in this Kotlin code using an object expression:

val obj = object {
    val x = 5
    fun printX() {
        println(y)
    }
}

medium

A. Property 'y' is not defined in the object

B. Missing parentheses after 'object'

C. Function printX() should return a value

D. Cannot use println inside object expressions

Solution

1. Step 1: Check properties and functions inside the object

   The object defines property x but tries to print y which is not defined.

2. Step 2: Understand the error cause

   Accessing undefined property y causes a compilation error.

3. Final Answer:

   Property 'y' is not defined in the object -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Undefined property access = error [OK]

Hint: Check all properties used inside object functions exist [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming missing parentheses after 'object' cause error
• Thinking functions must return a value
• Believing println is disallowed inside objects

5. How can you use an object expression to create a one-time comparator for sorting a list of strings by length in Kotlin?

hard

A. list.sortedWith(object : Comparator<String> { override fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length })

B. list.sortedWith(object Comparator<String> { fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length })

C. list.sortedWith(object : Comparator<String> { fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length })

D. list.sortedWith(object Comparator<String> { override fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length })

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand object expression with interface implementation

   To create a comparator, use object : Comparator<String> and override compare method.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   list.sortedWith(object : Comparator<String> { override fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length }) correctly uses override fun compare. Options B and D miss the colon before interface or override keyword. list.sortedWith(object : Comparator<String> { fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length }) misses override keyword.

3. Final Answer:

   list.sortedWith(object : Comparator<String> { override fun compare(a: String, b: String) = a.length - b.length }) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax = object : Interface { override fun method() } [OK]

Hint: Use 'object : Interface { override fun method() }' for anonymous implementations [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting colon before interface name
• Missing override keyword on method
• Using 'object Interface' instead of 'object : Interface'