why java compiler compile comments?

[Sukhadev Patil]

[e-mail]

public class cv
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
// char lf = '\u000a' ;
// char lf = '\u000d' ;


}
}

where

\u000a is unicode value of Newline.
\u000d is unicode value of Carrige Return.


after compile jvm prints following error.
why java compiler compile comment?

C:\cv.java:5: unclosed character literal
// char lf = '\u000a' ;
^
C:\cv.java:6: unclosed character literal
// char cr = '\u000d' ;
^
2 errors

Press any key to continue...

[Christophe Verré]

All unicode characters are actually translated before compilation, in the whole file, comments included.

Your carriage returned is also translated, so your comment becomes :

Before translation:
// char lf = '\u000a';
After translation
// char lf = '
';

This is why compilation fails.

[Sukhadev Patil]

i think newline character and Caridge retrun character makes it to check comment..but how ?
pls. reply on this

[Tony Morris]

There is an explanation here: http://jqa.tmorris.net/GetQAndA.action?qids=5&showAnswers=true

[Christophe Verré]

The same here:
http://www.coderanch.com/t/403130/java/java/why-java-compiler-compile-comments

Oops