To restrict the scope of a class, constructor, variable, method, or data member, we use access modifiers. There are mainly four types of access modifiers available –
- Default – It is set by default when no access modifier is specified. In other words, no one can access it from outside the package.
- Public – It allows anyone to access the members of the class(on which access specifier is set) from anywhere.
- Private – It limits its access within the class(on which access specifier is set). In other words, no one can access it from outside the class.
- Protected – It limits its access within the class and from the class that inherits it.
| Access | Same package (Non-derived) | Same package (Derived) | Other package (Non-derived) | Other package (Derived) |
| Private | No | No | No | No |
| Default | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Protected | yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Public | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |