What are Access Modifiers?
Access modifiers decide who can access a class, method, or variable.
Java has four main access modifiers:
1.private – accessible only within the same class.
- Example: A private variable cannot be accessed outside its class directly.
- Used for data hiding.
2.default (package-private) – no keyword is used.
- Accessible within the same package.
- Cannot be accessed from other packages, even by subclasses.
3.protected – accessible within same package and subclasses in different packages.
- Mostly used in inheritance to share with child classes.
4.public – accessible from anywhere.
Quick Rules Table
Why no protected/private for top-level classes?
- Private/protected cannot be used for top-level classes (outer classes). They are only allowed for inner classes or members within a class.
- Top-level classes can only be public or default (package-private).
Example
package electronics; public class Mobile // same class - private, public, protected, default { public Mobile() { System.out.println("Mobile constructor"); // default constructor is always in default access modifier } public static void main(String[] args) { Mobile mob = new Mobile(); mob.call(); mob.satellitecall(); } protected void call() { System.out.println("calling"); } protected void satellitecall() { System.out.println("satellitecall"); } } package electronics; public class Samsung extends Mobile { public static void main(String[] args) // same package subclass - public, default, protected { Samsung s21 = new Samsung(); s21.call(); s21.satellitecall(); } } package grocery; import electronics.Mobile; public class Rice extends Mobile // different package subclass - protected, public { public static void main(String[] args) { Rice mob = new Rice(); mob.call(); mob.satellitecall(); } } 
Top comments (0)