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# Using Components, the GUI Building Blocks

> This leasson tells you about every component the AWT offers, including the Canvas class, which you can use to build your own custom components. This lesson goes on to describe the AWT component architecture, plus solutions to common component problems.

> #### Using the AWT Components

> > Start here to learn the general rules of using components, as well as details on using every component the AWT provides.

> #### Details of the Component Architecture

> > Just before a component is first drawn to the screen, its peer is created. A peer is an object that provides the look (and part of the feel) for components. You usually don't need to know about peer objects, since they're specific to platform implementations. However, sometimes knowing about peers can help you find bugs in event-handling or drawing code.

> #### Common Component Problems (and Their Solutions)

> > This section discusses solutions to common component-related problems.

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