Access modifiers
Access modifiers (also known as access specifiers) are like fences that are put around certain parts of a program to keep some parts hidden from other parts. Think of them like a house with different rooms - some rooms may be open to everyone, while others are only for certain people.
There are four types of access modifiers that control the visibility of important parts of the program, like variables and methods:
1. Public: This means that the parts of the program can be accessed from anywhere, even from outside the program. It's like a door that is always open for everyone to come in and out of.
2. Private: This means that the parts of the program can only be accessed from within the same class or object. It's like a room with a locked door that only certain people can enter.
3. Protected: This is similar to private, but it allows subclasses to access those parts of the program as well. It's like a secret room that some people are allowed into, but only if they have a special key.
4. Default (also called "package-private"): This means that the parts of the program can only be accessed by other parts of the program that are in the same package. It's like a room that only people in the same group are allowed to enter.
So, access modifiers are important because they help keep parts of the program safe and in control. They help prevent other parts of the program from accidentally changing or accessing things that they shouldn't.
There are four types of access modifiers that control the visibility of important parts of the program, like variables and methods:
1. Public: This means that the parts of the program can be accessed from anywhere, even from outside the program. It's like a door that is always open for everyone to come in and out of.
2. Private: This means that the parts of the program can only be accessed from within the same class or object. It's like a room with a locked door that only certain people can enter.
3. Protected: This is similar to private, but it allows subclasses to access those parts of the program as well. It's like a secret room that some people are allowed into, but only if they have a special key.
4. Default (also called "package-private"): This means that the parts of the program can only be accessed by other parts of the program that are in the same package. It's like a room that only people in the same group are allowed to enter.
So, access modifiers are important because they help keep parts of the program safe and in control. They help prevent other parts of the program from accidentally changing or accessing things that they shouldn't.