# Java: Console Output

You can write programs that write text lines to the "console", which is typically a DOS command window. This is not as interesting as a Graphical User Interface, but you will see it used.

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    // introductory/ConsoleOutput.java
    // Michael Maus, 25 August 2004
    // This program shows a message on the console.

    public class ConsoleOutput {

        public static void main(String[] args) {
            System.out.println("Hello, Earthling");
        }
    }

No imports are required
  The `System` class is automatically imported (as are all `java.lang` classes).
Line 8 - Write the output
  You can write one complete output line to the console by calling the `System.out.println()` method. The argument to this method will be printed. `println` comes from Pascal and is short for "print line". There is also a similar `print` method which writes output to the console, but doesn't start a new line after the output.
Line 9 - No need to explicity stop the program
  If there is no GUI, there's no need to explicitly stop the program. However, you can always add

         System.exit(0);

  at the end if you wish.