High Level Events

High level or semantic events encapsulate the meaning of a user interface component. These include:

java.awt.event.ActionEvent

do a command

java.awt.event.AdjustmentEvent

value was adjusted

java.awt.event.ItemEvent

item state has changed

java.awt.event.TextEvent

the value of the text object changed

For example, when the user clicks the mouse on a button, then releases it, the button gets two or three separate, low-level, mouse events. (One for mouse down, one for mouse up, and possibly one for mouse drag if the user moves the mouse while the button is pressed.) However, the button then fires one high level ActionEvent.

If the user clicks the mouse on a button, moves the mouse off the button, then releases it, the Button gets two separate, low-level, mouse events. (One for mouse down, one for mouse drag.) However, the button eats these events and does nothing.