Embed Doc
Copy Link
Readcast
Collections

CommentGo Back

Download

Java NotesLocal/Instance/Class Variables

There are three kinds of Java variables:1.

Local variables

are declared in a method, constructor, or block. When a methodis entered, an area is pushed onto the

call stack

. This area contains slots for eachlocal variable and parameter. When the method is called, the parameter slots areinitialized to the parameter values. When the method exits, this area is popped off the stack and the memory becomes available for the next called method.Parameters are essentially local variables which are initialized from the actual parameters. Local variables are not visible outside the method.2.

Instance variables

are declared in a class, but outside a method. They are alsocalled

member

field variables

. When an object is allocated in the

heap

, there isa slot in it for each instance variable value. Therefore an instance variable iscreated when an object is created and destroyed when the object is destroyed.Visible in all methods and constructors of the defining class, should generally bedeclared private, but may be given greater visibility.3.

Class/static variables

are declared with the

static

keyword in a class, butoutside a method. There is only one copy per class, regardless of how manyobjects are created from it. They are stored in static memory. It is rare to use staticvariables other than declared

final

and used as either public or private constants.

characteristicLocal variableInstance variableClass variable

Wheredeclared

In a method,constructor, or block.In a class, but outside amethod. Typically

private

.In a class, but outside amethod. Must bedeclared

static

.Typically also

final

Use

Local variables holdvalues used incomputations in amethod.Instance variables holdvalues that must bereferenced by morethan one method (for example, componentsthat hold values liketext fields, variablesthat control drawing,etc), or that areessential parts of anobject's state that mustexist from one methodinvocation to another.Class variables aremostly used for

constants

, variables thatnever change from their initial value.

Lifetime

Created

when methodor constructor isentered.Destroyed on exit.

Created

when instanceof class is created with

new

Destroyed

when thereare no more referencesto enclosing object(made available for garbage collection).

Created

when the program starts.

Destroyed

when the program stops.

Scope/Visibility

Local variables(including formal parameters) are visibleonly in the method,constructor, or block inwhich they aredeclared. Accessmodifiers (

private

public

, ...) can

not

beused with localvariables. All localvariables areeffectively private tothe block in which theyare declared. No partof the program outsideof the method / block can see them. Aspecial case is thatlocal variablesdeclared in theinitializer part of a

for

statement have a scopeof the

for

statement.Instance (field)variables can beenseen by all methods inthe class. Which other classes can see them isdetermined by their declared access:

private

should beyour default choice indeclaring them. Noother class can see private instancevariables. This isregarded as the bestchoice. Define

getter

and

setter

methods if the value has to begotten or set fromoutside so that dataconsistency can beenforced, and to preserve internalrepresentationflexibility.Default (also called

package

visibility)allows a variable to beseen by any class inthe same package.

private

is preferable.

public

. Can be seenfrom any class.Generally a bad idea.Same as instancevariable, but are oftendeclared

public

tomake constantsavailable to users of theclass.