Access Modifiers in Java
Access Modifiers in Java
There are two types of modifiers in java: access modifiers and non-access modifiers.
The access modifiers in java specifies accessibility (scope) of a data member, method,
constructor or class.
1. private
2. default
3. protected
4. public
There are many non-access modifiers such as static, abstract, synchronized, native, volatile,
transient etc. Here, we will learn access modifiers.
In this example, we have created two classes A and Simple. A class contains private data member
and private method. We are accessing these private members from outside the class, so there is
compile time error.
1. class A{
4. }
5.
8. A obj=new A();
11. }
12. }
If you make any class constructor private, you cannot create the instance of that class from
outside the class. For example:
1. class A{
4. }
8. }
9. }
If you don't use any modifier, it is treated as default bydefault. The default modifier is accessible
only within package.
1. //save by A.java
2. package pack;
3. class A{
4. void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
5. }
1. //save by B.java
2. package mypack;
3. import pack.*;
4. class B{
8. }
9. }
In the above example, the scope of class A and its method msg() is default so it cannot be
accessed from outside the package.
The protected access modifier is accessible within package and outside the package but through
inheritance only.
The protected access modifier can be applied on the data member, method and constructor. It
can't be applied on the class.
1. //save by A.java
2. package pack;
3. public class A{
5. }
1. //save by B.java
2. package mypack;
3. import pack.*;
4.
5. class B extends A{
8. obj.msg();
9. }
10. }
Output:Hello
The public access modifier is accessible everywhere. It has the widest scope among all other
modifiers.
1. //save by A.java
2.
3. package pack;
4. public class A{
6. }
1. //save by B.java
2.
3. package mypack;
4. import pack.*;
5.
6. class B{
9. obj.msg();
10. }
11. }
Output:Hello
If you are overriding any method, overridden method (i.e. declared in subclass) must not be more
restrictive.
1. class A{
3. }
4.
9. obj.msg();
10. }
11. }
The default modifier is more restrictive than protected. That is why there is compile time error.