Java Keywords
Java keywords are also known as reserved words. Keywords are particular words that act as a key to a code. These are predefined words by Java so they cannot be used as a variable or object name or class name.
A list of Java keywords or reserved words are given below:
- abstract: Java abstract keyword is used to declare an abstract class. An abstract class can provide the implementation of the interface. It can have abstract and non-abstract methods.
- boolean: Java boolean keyword is used to declare a variable as a boolean type. It can hold True and False values only.
- break: Java break keyword is used to break the loop or switch statement. It breaks the current flow of the program at specified conditions.
- byte: Java byte keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold 8-bit data values.
- case: Java case keyword is used with the switch statements to mark blocks of text.
- catch: Java catch keyword is used to catch the exceptions generated by try statements. It must be used after the try block only.
- char: Java char keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold unsigned 16-bit Unicode characters.
- class: Java class keyword is used to declare a class.
- continue: Java continue keyword is used to continue the loop. It continues the current flow of the program and skips the remaining code at the specified condition.
- default: Java default keyword is used to specify the default block of code in a switch statement.
- do: Java do keyword is used in the control statement to declare a loop. It can iterate a part of the program several times.
- double: Java double keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold 64-bit floating-point number.
- else: Java else keyword is used to indicate the alternative branches in an if statement.
- enum: Java enum keyword is used to define a fixed set of constants. Enum constructors are always private or default.
- extends: Java extends keyword is used to indicate that a class is derived from another class or interface.
- final: Java final keyword is used to indicate that a variable holds a constant value. It is used with a variable. It is used to restrict the user from updating the value of the variable.
- finally: Java finally keyword indicates a block of code in a try-catch structure. This block is always executed whether an exception is handled or not.
- float: Java float keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 32-bit floating-point number.
- for: Java for keyword is used to start a for loop. It is used to execute a set of instructions/functions repeatedly when some condition becomes true. If the number of iterations is fixed, it is recommended to use the for loop.
- if: Java if keyword tests the condition. It executes the if block if the condition is true.
- implements: Java implements keyword is used to implement an interface.
- import: Java import keyword makes classes and interfaces available and accessible to the current source code.
- instanceof: Java instanceof keyword is used to test whether the object is an instance of the specified class or implements an interface.
- int: Java int keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 32-bit signed integer.
- interface: Java interface keyword is used to declare an interface. It can have only abstract methods.
- long: Java long keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 64-bit integer.
- native: Java native keyword is used to specify that a method is implemented in native code using JNI (Java Native Interface).
- new: Java new keyword is used to create new objects.
- null: Java null keyword is used to indicate that a reference does not refer to anything. It removes the garbage value.
- package: Java package keyword is used to declare a Java package that includes the classes.
- private: Java private keyword is an access modifier. It is used to indicate that a method or variable may be accessed only in the class in which it is declared.
- protected: Java protected keyword is an access modifier. It can be accessible within the package and outside the package but through inheritance only. It can’t be applied to the class.
- public: Java public keyword is an access modifier. It is used to indicate that an item is accessible anywhere. It has the widest scope among all other modifiers.
- return: Java return keyword is used to return from a method when its execution is complete.
- short: Java short keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 16-bit integer.
- static: Java static keyword is used to indicate that a variable or method is a class method. The static keyword in Java is mainly used for memory management.
- strictfp: Java strictfp is used to restrict the floating-point calculations to ensure portability.
- super: Java super keyword is a reference variable that is used to refer to parent class objects. It can be used to invoke the immediate parent class method.
- switch: The Java switch keyword contains a switch statement that executes code based on the test value. The switch statement tests the equality of a variable against multiple values.
- synchronized: Java synchronized keyword is used to specify the critical sections or methods in multithreaded code.
- this: Java this keyword can be used to refer to the current object in a method or constructor.
- throw: The Java throw keyword is used to explicitly throw an exception. The throw keyword is mainly used to throw custom exceptions. It is followed by an instance.
- throws: The Java throws keyword is used to declare an exception. Checked exceptions can be propagated with throws.
- transient: Java transient keyword is used in serialization. If you define any data member as transient, it will not be serialized.
- try: Java try keyword is used to start a block of code that will be tested for exceptions. The try block must be followed by either catch or finally block.
- void: Java void keyword is used to specify that a method does not have a return value.
- volatile: Java volatile keyword is used to indicate that a variable may change asynchronously.
- while: Java while keyword is used to start a while loop. This loop iterates a part of the program several times. If the number of iterations is not fixed, it is recommended to use the while loop.
Access Modifiers in Java
There are two types of modifiers in Java: access modifiers and non-access modifiers.
The access modifiers in Java specifies the accessibility or scope of a field, method, constructor, or class. We can change the access level of fields, constructors, methods, and class by applying the access modifier on it.
There are four types of Java access modifiers:
1. Private: The access level of a private modifier is only within the class. It
cannot be accessed from outside the class.
2. Default: The access level of a default modifier is only within the package. It
cannot be accessed from outside the package. If you do not specify any access level, it will be the default.
3. Protected: The access level of a protected modifier is within the package and outside the package through child class. If you do not make the child class, it cannot be accessed from outside the package.
4. Public: The access level of a public modifier is everywhere. It can be accessed from within the class, outside the class, within the package and outside the package