Java Default Access Modifier

In Java, the default access modifier is the one that is applied to a class, field, method, or constructor if no explicit access modifier is specified.

The default access modifier allows the element to be accessed within the same package, but not from outside the package. This means that classes, fields, methods, and constructors with the default access modifier are only visible and accessible to other classes in the same package.

Here is an example of a class with the default access modifier:

package com.example;

class DefaultClass {
  // Default access modifier
  int x;

  // Default access modifier
  void myMethod() {
    // method body
  }
}

In this example, the DefaultClass class and the x field have the default access modifier, which means they are only visible and accessible to other classes in the com.example package.

You can use the public access modifier to make a class, field, method, or constructor visible and accessible to all classes, regardless of the package they are in. The private access modifier, on the other hand, restricts the visibility and accessibility of an element to the class it is defined in. The protected access modifier allows an element to be accessed within the same package and by subclasses of the class it is defined in.

The choice of access modifier depends on your design and access requirements for the element. It is generally a good practice to use the most restrictive access modifier that is appropriate for the element, to help encapsulate the implementation and protect the integrity of the class.