Understanding private fields in java

Asked Oct 12 '15 at 06:37

Active Oct 12 '15 at 06:37

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Consider this piece of code:

class Capsule {
    private int numItems;

    private void moveItemsTo(Capsule that) {
        that.numItems += this.numItems;
        numItems = 0;
    }

    public static void main(String[ ] args) {
        Capsule c = new Capsule();
        c.numItems = 2000;
        c.moveItemsTo( c );
    }
}

When I first looked at it, I thought that the moveItemsTo() method would cause compilation errors, since it is accessing a private field from another instance of Capsule. Also, I thought that even in main, accessing the private fields of a newly created instance is not allowed. However, the entire code compiled without any errors, can someone please explain why?

asked Oct 12 '15 at 06:37

b_pcakes

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You are still in the same class and since it´s a valid scope of visibility – SomeJavaGuy Oct 12 '15 at 06:39
from "another instance". You only have one instance. – Stultuske Oct 12 '15 at 06:41
@KevinEsche So if I declared an inner class within `Capsule`, and I declared a private member in that class, it is still accessible by other methods in `Capsule`? – b_pcakes Oct 12 '15 at 07:07

Understanding private fields in java

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