| Using Components, the GUI Building Blocks

## Using the AWT Components

> The following figures show the inheritance hierarchies for all the AWT component classes.

>             Object
>                |
>          MenuComponent
>                |
>          +------------+
>          |            |
>       MenuItem     MenuBar
>          |
>        +----+
>        |    |
>      Menu CheckboxMenuItem

> As the figures show, all components except for menu-related components inherit from the AWT Component class. Because of cross-platform restrictions (such as the inability to set menu background colors), menu-related components aren't full-blown Components. Instead, menu components inherit from the AWT MenuComponent class.

> #### General Rules for Using Components

> > Before you start using components, you should know what the Component class provides and how you can customize components.

> #### How to Use ...

> > The next group of pages tells you how to use the components the AWT provides. Each kind of component has its own page:
> > - How to Use Buttons
> > - How to Use Canvases
> > - How to Use Checkboxes
> > - How to Use Choices
> > - How to Use Dialogs
> > - How to Use Frames
> > - How to Use Labels
> > - How to Use Lists
> > - How to Use Menus
> > - How to Use Panels
> > - How to Use Scrollbars
> > - How to Use TextAreas and TextFields

| Using Components, the GUI Building Blocks