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Properties

java.util.Properties is like java.util.Hashtable (legacy) but with very useful methods for saving to & loading from files. The class is widely used for configuration files.

A properties file is pure text comprising name/value pairs. The separator between name & value can be '=', ':' or a space. Comment lines begin '#' or '!'. Eg,

	# My configuration file
	file.menu=File
	file.new=New
	file.open=Open
	# ...

Ie, labels for menus. These can then easily be swapped for versions in other languages (I18N = InternationalisatioN).

See also java.util.ResourceBundle in the API documentation. Resource bundles are widely used for multi-lingual web sites.

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