Java Class Example: Notes

• Note that variables of the type of a class are also just references
• Actual object only comes into existence when allocated via the new statement
• A class variable declared with the static modifier has only one copy of the variable
• A class method declared with the staticmodifier is invoked without reference to a particular object
  • May only reference other static variables and methods in the class
• Each variable or method specifies its own visibility rules:

  public

  accessible to anyone

  protected

  accessible only to class and other derived classes

  private

  accessible only to class

  (default)

  accessible to any class in the same package as the defining class