Types of Access Specifiers in Java Explained

Answer:

In Java, access specifiers (also known as access modifiers) are keywords that determine the visibility or accessibility of classes, methods, and variables. They control how the members of a class can be accessed from other classes. There are four main types of access specifiers in Java:

1. Public

Description: Members (variables or methods) declared as public are accessible from any other class in any package.
Usage: Use public when you want to allow access to a member from any other class.

public class MyClass {
    public int myPublicVariable;
    
    public void myPublicMethod() {
        // method implementation
    }
}

2. Private

Description: Members declared as private are accessible only within the class in which they are declared. They are not visible to any other class, even those in the same package.
Usage: Use private to encapsulate data and restrict access to it, promoting data hiding.

public class MyClass {
    private int myPrivateVariable;
    
    private void myPrivateMethod() {
        // method implementation
    }
}

3. Protected

Description: Members declared as protected are accessible within the same package and also by subclasses (even if they are in different packages).
Usage: Use protected when you want to allow access to subclasses and classes in the same package.

public class MyClass {
    protected int myProtectedVariable;
    
    protected void myProtectedMethod() {
        // method implementation
    }
}

4. Default (Package-Private)

Description: If no access specifier is specified, the member is considered to have "default" access (also known as package-private). Members with default access are accessible only within classes in the same package.
Usage: Use default access when you want to restrict access to classes within the same package.

class MyClass {
    int myDefaultVariable; // default access
    
    void myDefaultMethod() {
        // method implementation
    }
}

Summary

Public: Accessible from anywhere.
Private: Accessible only within the same class.
Protected: Accessible within the same package and by subclasses.
Default: Accessible only within the same package (no keyword specified).