Access Modifiers in Java

 

🔷  Access Modifiers in Java

Access modifiers control the visibility (accessibility) of classes, variables, constructors, and methods in Java.

✅ Types of Access Modifiers:

Modifier	Class	Package	Subclass	World
public	✅	✅	✅	✅
protected	✅	✅	✅	❌
(default)*	✅	✅	❌	❌
private	✅	❌	❌	❌

*default (no modifier) means package-private — accessible only within the same package.

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🔹 Explanation with Examples:

🔸 public: Accessible everywhere

public class MyClass {
    public int value = 10;
    public void show() {
        System.out.println("Public Method");
    }
}

🔸 private: Accessible only within the class

class MyClass {
    private int secret = 123;

    private void showSecret() {
        System.out.println("Secret: " + secret);
    }

    public void access() {
        showSecret(); // OK: accessed within class
    }
}

🔸 protected: Accessible within same package and subclasses

class Parent {
    protected void greet() {
        System.out.println("Hello from parent!");
    }
}

class Child extends Parent {
    void sayHi() {
        greet(); // OK
    }
}

🔸 Default (no modifier): Accessible only in same package

class MyClass {
    void defaultMethod() {
        System.out.println("Package-private method");
    }
}