Java Access Modifiers

Public, Protected, Default & Private



Public
Member is accessible within the defining class: YES
Member is accessible via inheritance: YES
Via a reference to an object of the class: YES

Protected
Member is accessible within the defining class: YES
Member is accessible via inheritance: YES
Via a reference to an object of the class: IF IN SAME PACKAGE

Default
Member is accessible within the defining class: YES
Member is accessible via inheritance: IF IN SAME PACKAGE
Via a reference to an object of the class: IF IN SAME PACKAGE

Private
Member is accessible within the defining class: YES
Member is accessible via inheritance: NO
Via a reference to an object of the class: NO