Visibility modifier with abstract method signatures in Java

Question

Quick question:

Is the proper syntax:

public abstract void myMethod();

OR

abstract public void myMethod();

... The difference being the order of the keywords public and abstract.

Both compile without warnings, but which is the proper syntax?

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:47

According to JLS section 8.1.1

ClassModifier: one of
    Annotation public protected private
    abstract static final strictfp

If two or more class modifiers appear in a class declaration, then it is customary, though not required, that they appear in the order consistent with that shown above in the production for ClassModifier.

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:38

2

Either is "proper". The difference is a matter of style. I prefer the first.

answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:38

Gus

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:40

2

Both are syntactically correct but

public abstract void myMethod();

is more common. You usually declare the visibility first.

answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:40

mtsz

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:40

1

Most common practice is public abstract. I can't actually recall any example or book or any code I've worked with that does the opposite.

answered Feb 01 '12 at 21:40

fivedigit

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Visibility modifier with abstract method signatures in Java

4 Answers4