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Modifiers

Modifiers in Java are special keywords that are used to change the behavior, visibility, or access level of classes, methods, variables, or constructors. They help control how and where these elements can be used in a program.

Types of Access Modifiers:

public → Accessible from anywhere
private → Accessible only inside the same class
protected → Accessible within the same package and child classes
default (no keyword) → Accessible only within the same package

Example

public class Main {

// public variable → can be accessed from anywhere
public int publicVar = 10;

// private variable → can be accessed only inside this class
private int privateVar = 20;

// protected variable → accessible in same package and child classes
protected int protectedVar = 30;

// default variable (no modifier) → accessible only within same package
int defaultVar = 40;

public static void main(String[] args) {

// Creating object of Main class
Main obj = new Main();

// Accessing public variable (allowed everywhere)
System.out.println("Public: " + obj.publicVar);

// Accessing private variable (allowed inside same class only)
System.out.println("Private: " + obj.privateVar);

// Accessing protected variable
System.out.println("Protected: " + obj.protectedVar);

// Accessing default variable
System.out.println("Default: " + obj.defaultVar);
}
}

Comparison Table of Access Modifiers in Java

Modifier	Within Class	Within Package	Outside Package (Subclass)	Outside Package (Non-Subclass)
public	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
protected	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Default	Yes	Yes	No	No
private	Yes	No	No	No