Access Modifiers

There are two types of modifiers in Java: access modifiers and non-access modifiers.

The access modifiers in Java specifies the accessibility or scope of a field, method, constructor, or class. We can change the access level of fields, constructors, methods, and class by applying the access modifier on it.

There are four types of Java access modifiers:

  1. Private: The access level of a private modifier is only within the class. It cannot be accessed from outside the class.
  2. Default: The access level of a default modifier is only within the package. It cannot be accessed from outside the package. If you do not specify any access level, it will be the default.
  3. Protected: The access level of a protected modifier is within the package and outside the package through child class. If you do not make the child class, it cannot be accessed from outside the package.
  4. Public: The access level of a public modifier is everywhere. It can be accessed from within the class, outside the class, within the package and outside the package.

Note : Access Specifiers and Access Modifiers are the same thing, term access specifiers were used in C++ and access modifiers in java official docs.

Java Access Modifiers with Method Overriding

If you are overriding any method, overridden method (i.e. declared in subclass) must not be more restrictive.

class A {
	protected void msg() {
		System.out.println("Hello java");
	}
}

public class Simple extends A {
	void msg() {
		System.out.println("Hello java");
	}// C.T.Error

	public static void main(String args[]) {
		Simple obj = new Simple();
		obj.msg();
	}
}

Reference :

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