Tic-Tac-Toe Java Console Game

Overview

This is a console-based Tic-Tac-Toe game implemented in Java. Two players take turns marking cells on a 3x3 grid with their symbols: X and O. The first player to align three marks in a row, column, or diagonal wins. If the grid is full and no player wins, the game ends in a tie.

This project is ideal for beginners learning:

• Java basics (arrays, loops, conditionals)
• Methods and modular programming
• Input validation and console interaction

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Features

• Interactive 3x3 console grid display
• Row and column numbers for easy move selection
• Input validation to prevent invalid moves or overwriting
• Automatic detection of winner or tie
• Clear turn switching between Player X and Player O
• Optional console clearing for a cleaner board display

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How to Play

1. Run the program in a Java IDE or terminal.
2. Player X goes first.
3. Players take turns entering their move in the format:

row column

• row and column are numbers between 0 and 2.
• Example: 1 2 places a mark at row 1, column 2.

4. The program validates the input:

   • Checks if the coordinates are valid (0–2)
   • Ensures the chosen cell is empty

5. The game continues until:

   • A player gets three in a row → winner is announced
   • All cells are filled → game ends in a tie

6. The board is displayed after each move.

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Grid Example

   0   1   2
0  X |   | O
  ---+---+---
1    | X |  
  ---+---+---
2  O |   | X

• Column and row numbers help players select cells easily.

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Code Structure

• TicTacToe class: main class containing the game logic.

• Variables:

  • grid → 3x3 char array representing the board
  • PLAYER_X and PLAYER_O → symbols for players
  • currentPlayer → tracks whose turn it is

• Methods:

Method	Description
main(String[] args)	Starts the game, initializes the grid, and handles game loop
printGrid()	Displays the current grid with row and column numbers
isGameOver()	Checks if a player has won or the grid is full
hasWinner()	Returns true if a player has a winning combination
isRowWin(int row)	Checks if a specific row has the same marks
isColWin(int col)	Checks if a specific column has the same marks
isDiag1Win()	Checks top-left to bottom-right diagonal for a win
isDiag2Win()	Checks top-right to bottom-left diagonal for a win
isFull()	Checks if all cells in the grid are filled

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Tips for Beginners

• Understand how 2D arrays are used to represent the board.
• Learn how loops iterate through rows and columns to check for wins.
• Notice the use of methods to modularize the code and avoid repetition.
• Input validation is key to prevent crashes or illegal moves.
• The currentPlayer variable helps alternate turns easily.

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How to Run

1. Save the code as TicTacToe.java.
2. Open a terminal or IDE (e.g., IntelliJ, Eclipse, VS Code).
3. Compile the program:

javac TicTacToe.java

4. Run the program:

java TicTacToe

5. Follow on-screen instructions to play.

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Example Game Play

   0   1   2
0    |   |  
  ---+---+---
1    |   |  
  ---+---+---
2    |   |  

Player X, enter your move (row and column): 0 0

   0   1   2
0  X |   |  
  ---+---+---
1    |   |  
  ---+---+---
2    |   |  

Player O, enter your move (row and column): 1 1
...
Player X wins! 🎉

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License

This project is free to use and modify. Ideal for learning and practice.