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What is the difference between protected, public, package-private, and private in Java?

Utpal Vishwas19821-Jul-2023

What is the difference between protected, public, package-private, and private in Java?

javajava access modifiers 
Updated on 22-Jul-2023
Utpal Vishwas

Utpal Vishwas

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I am Utpal Vishwas from Uttar Pradesh. Have completed my B. Tech. course from MNNIT campus Prayagraj in 2022. I have good knowledge of computer networking.

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Aryan Kumar

Aryan Kumar

22-Jul-2023

Java has four access modifiers:

  • public
  • protected
  • package-private
  • private

The access modifier of a class member (e.g., field, method, or constructor) determines whether the member is accessible to other classes.

Here's a table summarizing the difference between the four access modifiers:

Access ModifierVisibility
PublicVisible to all classes, regardless of their package.
ProtectedVisible to subclasses of the class in which it is declared, and to classes in the same package.
Package-privateVisible to all classes in the same package.
PrivateVisible only to the class in which it is declared.

Here are some examples of how to use the different access modifiers:

  • A public class can be used by any class in any package.
  • A protected class can be used by subclasses of the class in which it is declared, and by classes in the same package.
  • A package-private class can be used by any class in the same package.
  • A private class can only be used by the class in which it is declared.

Access modifiers can also be used on class members, such as fields, methods, and constructors. The access modifier of a class member determines whether the member is accessible to other classes.

For example, a public field can be accessed by any class, while a private field can only be accessed by the class in which it is declared.

Here are some examples of how to use access modifiers on class members:

  • A public field can be accessed by any class.
  • A protected field can be accessed by subclasses of the class in which it is declared, and by classes in the same package.
  • A package-private field can be accessed by any class in the same package.
  • A private field can only be accessed by the class in which it is declared.

Access modifiers are an important part of Java's object-oriented programming model. They allow you to control the visibility of your class members and classes, which can help you to write more secure and maintainable code.

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