Visibility Modifiers
|
Python |
Java |
|
All items defined within
a class (variables or methods) are potentially visible to programmers who use
the class. Implementers of a class
usually discourage direct access to variables by using the underscore in
their names. |
There are four levels of
access to classes and the items defined within them. There are three visibility modifiers
that specify access: public, private, and protected. Public access allows any
program component to reference an item. Example: public static
final int NUM_GRADES = 0; Private access allows
access to an item only by other items within the enclosing class definition. Example: private int[]
grades; Protected access extends
access to an item from the defining class to all subclasses. Example: protected
String name; When a visibility
modifier is omitted, the item has package access. This means that access is extended from the defining class
to all components in the same package.
For most purposes, package access is equivalent to public access. |