Inner class variable access

Hi all
If for example I pass a JButton to a method or construcrtor of another Class. Is there a way to make this JButton accessable from all other methods or subclasses in that Class?
It's something that has caused me problems in the past, I've been able to work around the problem but I think it would make life much easier if this were possible.
Thanks

Thanks for the quick response.
So you mean I can do something like:
public class MyClass
private JButton MemberButton;
public MyClass( JButton aButton )
MemberButton = aButton;
}

Similar Messages

Outer Class Accessing Inner Classes Variables

Hi Everyone,
Should an outer class directly access the private member variables of its inner class? Or should it get their values by calling an appropriate 'getXXX()' method?
Just wondering.
Thx.

If the outer class trys to access the variable that is declared in the inner class with in a class and outside the method, then it can access in the following example
class outer
     private int x=10;
     class inner
          int y=20;
     public void getOutput()
          inner in=new inner();
          System.out.println("The value of y is" +in.y);
     public static void main(String args[])
          outer out=new outer();
          out.getOutput();
};

Why Inner class cannot access static variables

Why is it that inner class can use only static final variables of the outerclass, and not ordinary static variables of the outer class. "Yes the JLS sepcifies that only final static variables can be used inside an inner class, esp a non blank final variable". But why this restriction.
Thanks.

so what are final static variables treated as if they
are not variables. So if the final static value is
not loaded when the class is loaded how will the
class know about the value.??The actual value wil be substituted for the name of a static final value at compile time. That's why you can use them in switch statements where you can't use any variable variable.
This is something to watch out for, by the way, because if you use a public static final value from one class in another the actual value will be compiled into the using class, so if you change the value where it's defined the class using it will have the old value until it's recompiled.

Inner Classes Changing Access Rights Of Parent Members

I read that if you access a parent class's private memebers or methods from within an inner class, those members of methods will automatically and silently be converted to having package access. This seems dangerous and I'd like to know how I could design around it.
Here is my current dilemma. I have an EventHandler class whose handleEvent() method changes with the object's state. I've implemented this using the Strategy Pattern, where the Strategy objects are inner classes of EventHandler. The problem is that these Strategy objects need access to certain private members and methods of their parent. There is no reason, however, to give package access to these members and methods. What can I do? Or does this suggest that I need a design change? Other than this issue, though, I'm quite happy with the design.
Thanks for any thoughts,
John

When inner classes access private fields or methods, the compiler generates new package-private methods
with names like "access$000":
import java.lang.reflect.*;
public class X {
    private void x() {}
    class Y {
        public void y() {
            x();
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Method[] methods = X.class.getDeclaredMethods();
        for(int i=0; i<methods.length; ++i)
            System.out.println(methods.getName());
So it's not correct that the access to fields or methods is changed, just that additional methods are added.
Unless you're in the habit of writing method names that contain '$', I think it's unlikely that you'll directly call
these new methods, and if you do, it should be easy to spot!

How to access var in outter class inside inner class

I've problem with this, how to access var number1 and number2 at outter class inside inner class? what statement do i have to use to access it ? i tried with " int number1 = Kalkulator1.this.number1; " but there no value at class option var y when the program was running...
import java.io.*;
public class Kalkulator1{
int number1,number2,x;
/* The short way to create instance object for input console*/
private static BufferedReader stdin =
new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader( System.in ) );
public static void main(String[] args)throws IOException {
System.out.println("---------------------------------------");
System.out.println("Kalkulator Sayur by Cumi ");
System.out.println("---------------------------------------");
System.out.println("Tentukan jenis operasi bilangan [0-4] ");
System.out.println(" 1. Penjumlahan ");
System.out.println(" 2. Pengurangan ");
System.out.println(" 3. Perkalian ");
System.out.println(" 4. Pembagian ");
System.out.println("---------------------------------------");
System.out.print(" Masukan jenis operasi : ");
String ops = stdin.readLine();
     int numberops = Integer.parseInt( ops );
System.out.print("Masukan Bilangan ke-1 : ");
String input1 = stdin.readLine();
int number1 = Integer.parseInt( input1 );
System.out.print("Masukan Bilangan ke-2 : ");
String input2 = stdin.readLine();
int number2 = Integer.parseInt( input2 );
     Kalkulator1 op = new Kalkulator1();
Kalkulator1.option b = op.new option();
     b.pilihan(numberops);
System.out.println("Bilangan yang dimasukkan adalah = " + number1 +" dan "+ number2 );
class option{
int x,y;
     int number1 = Kalkulator1.this.number1;
     int number2 = Kalkulator1.this.number2;
void pilihan(int x) {
if (x == 1)
{System.out.println("Operasi yang digunakan adalah Penjumlahan");
        int y = (number1+number2);
        System.out.println("Hasil dari operasi adalah = " + y);}
else
{if (x == 2) {System.out.println("Operasi yang digunakan adalah Pengurangan");
         int y = (number1-number2);
         System.out.println("Hasil dari operasi adalah = " + y);}
else
{if (x == 3) {System.out.println("Operasi yang digunakan adalah Perkalian");
         int y = (number1*number2);
         System.out.println("Hasil dari operasi adalah = " + y);}
else
{if (x == 4) {System.out.println("Operasi yang digunakan adalah Pembagian ");
         int y = (number1/number2);
         System.out.println("Hasil dari operasi adalah =" + y);}
else {System.out.println( "Operasi yang digunakan adalah Pembagian ");
}

Delete the variables number1 and number2 from your inner class. Your inner class can access the variables in the outer class directly. Unless you need the inner and outer class variables to hold different values then you can give them different names.
In future place code tags around your code to make it retain formatting. Highlight code and click code button.

Why method local inner class can use final variable rather than....

Hi all
Just a quick question.
Why method-local inner class can access final variable defined in method only?
I know the reason why it can not access instance variable in method.
Just can not figure out why??
any reply would be appreciated.
Steven

Local classes can most definitely reference instance variables. The reason they cannot reference non final local variables is because the local class instance can remain in memory after the method returns. When the method returns the local variables go out of scope, so a copy of them is needed. If the variables weren't final then the copy of the variable in the method could change, while the copy in the local class didn't, so they'd be out of synch.

Hw To Make Inner Class Distinguish Func Parameter And Outer Class Var

i fail to make an inner class distinguish among function parameter and outer class variable.
consider the following code:
public class a {
     int var; // i want to access this one using inner class.
     public a(int var) {
          this.var = var;
          class b {
               public void fun() {
                    var = 100;
i get an error a.java:9: local variable var is accessed from within inner class; needs to be declared final.
when i change the code to this:
public class a {
     int var; // i want to access this one using inner class.
     public a() {
          class b {
               public void fun() {
                    var = 100;
it compiled no problem.it seems that inner class is accessing function parameter rather than outer class member.
is there any syntax i can use to make me access the outer class member variable whithout renaming or removing the function parameter?
thank you.

a.this.var = 100; //Use this in the inner class.Amazing syntax -:)

Anon inner classes + final vars

Ive always taken it for granted that anon inner classes can access outside variables only if they are static.
Googling this yields about the same information but no good explaination.
can someone kindly explain why the JVM wants this restriction? i suppose it must have something to do with the way objects are handled internally.
ill give dukes!

The "final" restriction only applies to variables within a method which you want to use outside the method. I would assume it is down to
1) The variable goes out of scope when the method ends.
2) init().field and init.AnonActionListener().field would actually be different variables, changing init().field would not be replicated to init.AnonActionListener().field. This would be very confusing.
�8.1.3 does not give any reason for this.

Why inner classes cannot have static declarations ?

Hi Friends,
When i tried to make static declarations on a inner class which is non static, i am getting compilation error saying "inner classes cannot have static declarations". I want to know reason behind this implementation.
Code which i have tried:
public class TestOuter
class TestInner{
static int i =10;
public static boolean validate(int a){
if(a==0)
System.out.println("Invalid data");
return false;
return true;
public static void main(String a[]){
boolean result = new TestOuter.TestInner.validate(0);
System.out.println("Result="+result);
Thanks,
Shiju V.

so I think if the
outer class is not static , then Inner class can't be
static as well. This is incorrect. An enclosed class can be indeed static while the outer is not, and vice versa.
The difference between static/non static in regards to enclosed classes is that the static ones are 'top-level' and cannot access the members of the enclosing class.
The effect of making an enclosed class static means there is only one instance of any variables, no matter how many instances of the outer class are created. In this situation how could the static inner class know which variables to access of its non static outer class. Of course the answer is that it could not know, and thus an static inner class cannot access instance variables of its enclosing class.
Now, regarding non-static inner classes, and trying to give a valid answer to the original post:
As with instance methods and variables, a non-static inner class is associated with an instance of its enclosing class and has direct access to that object's instance variables and methods.
TestOuter outer = new TestOuter();
TestOuter.TestInner inner = outer.new TestInner();Because an inner class is associated with an instance (inner class implicitly keeps a reference to the object of the enclosing class that created it), it cannot define any static members itself. Static members cannot access the this pointer.
So, in an ordinary (non-static) inner class, the link to the outer class object is achieved with a special this reference. A static inner class does not have that special this reference, nor would a static method/variable of an ordinary (non-static) inner class.

Local inner classes

Hi all,
Local inner classes can access all instance / static variables (include private) from enclosing class & local variables / methods parameters declared as final.
class Outer {
private int a = 0;
static int b = 1;
public void localInnerClassTest(final int k) {
final double x = 0.4;
class LocalInner {
public void test() {
System.out.println(a + " " + b + " " + k + " " + x);
new LocalInner().test();
public static void main(String args[]) {
new Outer().localInnerClassTest(3);
// shows 0 1 3 0.4
I�ve seen in some mock exams that�s wrong ...
Thankz

Local inner classes can access all instance / static
variables (include private) from enclosing class &
local variables / methods parameters declared as
final.Yes. That is correct
>
I�ve seen in some mock exams that�s wrong ...You've seen that what's wrong? - the statement you made above or the code you posted?
The code you posted should not compile (is that what you mean by "wrong"), but you have not explained the problem you are having...
Do you have a question you would like answered?

Why only final variables can be accessed in an inner class ?

Variables declared in a method need to declared as final if they are to be accessed in an inner class which resides in that method. My question is...
1. Why should i declare them as final ? What's the reason?
2. If i declare them as final, could they be modified in inner class ? since final variables should not modify their value.

(Got an error posting this, so I hope we don't end up with two...)
But what if i want to change the final local variable within that method instead of within anonymous class.You can't. You can't change the value of a final variable.
Should i use same thing like having another local variable as part of method and initializing it with the final local variable?You could do. But as in the first example I posted you are changing the value of the nonfinal variable not the final one. Because final variables can't be changed.
If so, don't you think it is redundant to have so many local variables for so many final local variables just to change them within that method?If you are worried that a variable might be redundant, don't create it. If you must create it to meet some need then it's not redundant.
Or is there any alternate way?Any alternate way to do what?

Accessing member variable within an anonymous inner class

I'm getting a compiler error with the following snippet which resides in a constructor (error below):
        final String fullNamesArr[] = new String[ lafsArr.length ];
        String lafNamesArr[] = new String[ lafsArr.length ];
        JMenuItem namesMenuItemArr[] = new JMenuItem[ lafsArr.length ];
        for ( int i = 0 ; i < lafsArr.length ; i++ )
            StringTokenizer tokenizer;
            fullNamesArr[ i ] = lafsArr[ i ].getClassName();
            tokenizer = new StringTokenizer( fullNamesArr[ i ] );
            while ( tokenizer.hasMoreTokens() )
                lafNamesArr[ i ] = tokenizer.nextToken( "." );
            namesMenuItemArr[ i ] = new JMenuItem( lafNamesArr[ i ] );
            lafMenu.add( namesMenuItemArr[ i ] );
            namesMenuItemArr[ i ].addActionListener(new ActionListener()
                    public final void actionPerformed(final ActionEvent e)
                        String actionCommand = e.getActionCommand();
                        int iCount = 0;
                        for ( int index = 0 ; index < fullNamesArr.length ; index++ )
                            if ( fullNamesArr[ index ].contains( actionCommand ))
                                iCount = index;
                                break;
                        System.out.println( "Setting LAF to '" +
                                            fullNamesArr[ iCount ] + "'" );
                        try
                            UIManager.setLookAndFeel( fullNamesArr[ iCount ] );
                        catch ( UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ulafe )
                            System.out.println( fullNamesArr[ iCount ] +
                                                " : Not a valid LAF class." );
                        catch ( ClassNotFoundException cnfe )
                            System.out.println( fullNamesArr[ iCount ] +
                                                " : Class not found." );
                        catch ( InstantiationException ie )
                            System.out.println( fullNamesArr[ iCount ] +
                                                " : Can't instantiate class." );
                        catch ( IllegalAccessException iae )
                            System.out.println( fullNamesArr[ iCount ] +
                                                " : Illegal access." );
DBBuilder.java:1280: cannot resolve symbol
symbol : method contains (java.lang.String)
location: class java.lang.String
if ( fullNamesArr[ index ].contains( actionCommand ))
^
1 error
BUILD FAILED
My question: Why can I access fullNamesArr in other spots in the anon-inner class,but not with the String.contains() method? BTW, the carrot is under the left bracket '['.
TIA,
Jeff

My question: Why can I access fullNamesArr in other
spots in the anon-inner class,but not with the
String.contains() method? BTW, the carrot is under
the left bracket '['.You're misinterpreting the message. The problem is not your variable fullNamesArr, but rather the method contains(java.lang.String). Since that method was only added in Java 5 (aka 1.5) you might look if you're compiling with JDK 1.4 or earlier.

Local variable can't be accessed from inner class ???????? Why ??????

Plesae help, help, help. I have no idea what to do with this bug.........
<code>
for ( int i = 0; i <= 2; i++ ) {
for ( int j = 0; j <= 2; j++ ) {
grids[i][j] = new MyButton ();
grids[i][j].setBorder(but);
getContentPane().add(grids[i][j]);
MyButton sub = grids[i][j];
sub.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if ( sub.getState() == 0 ) {
     sub = new MyButton( (Icon) new ImageIcon(imageFile));
     if ( imageFile.equals("cross.jpg") ) {
          sub.changeState(1);
     else {
          sub.changeState(2);
</code>
The compiler complains that "sub" is in the inner class, which is the ActionListener class, must be declared final. Please tell me what to do with it. I want to add an ActionListener to each MyButton Object in the array. Thanks ......

OK, now I changed my code to this :
for ( int i = 0; i <= 2; i++ ) {
for ( int j = 0; j <= 2; j++ ) {
    grids[i][j] = new MyButton ();
    grids[i][j].setBorder(but);
    getContentPane().add(grids[i][j]);
    grids[i][j].addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
        if ( grids[i][j].getState() == 0 ) {
           grids[i][j] = new MyButton( (Icon) new ImageIcon(imageFile));
          if ( imageFile.equals("cross.jpg") ) {
           grids[i][j].changeState(1);
          else {
          grids[i][j].changeState(2);
[/cpde]
Thanks for your advice !!!!!!
Now the compiler says that i and j are local variables accessed from inner classes, needs to be declared final. How can I solve this then ???

Inner class inside a method - how does it access method's local variable?

hello All:
I've learnt that, an inner class, if defined inside a method, it can access the method's local variables, only when they are defined as "final".
Anyone can help explain the rationale behind it?
Thanks a lot!
Sway

fathomBoat wrote:
In java, everything is about pass-by-reference.
Wrong! Nothing in Java is ever pass-by-reference.
Java uses pass-by-value everywhere.
It makes sense to me if the reason of enforcing a variable to be "final" is to prevent it being messed up.No, the reason is that a copy is made and if the variable weren't final then it could change later on and the developer could be confused because his inner class didn't "see" that change.
The variable being final prevents that scenario.
However, if a copy of the variable is made inside the inner class, i dont see how possible it could affect variables outside of class?Such a copy is made, but the language designers wanted to hide that fact from the developer. By forcing all accessed variables to be declared final the developer has no way to realize that he's actually working on a copy.

How to access the int variable in the inner class

hi all,
i can't access the int variable in the inner class. can any one help me
int count = 0;
MouseMoveListener mouseMove = new MouseMoveListener() {
     public void mouseMove(MouseEvent e) {
          count1++;
          System.out.println(count);
};how to access count variable
thanks

for this how can i access the countIf the count variable is a local variable you can't access it from within the
inner class. Make it a member variable of the outer class instead:public class Outer {
   private int count;
   MouseMoveListener mouseMove= new MouseMoveListener() {
      public void mouseMove(MouseEvent me) {
         count++;
         System.out.println(count);
}Alternatively, if you don't need that count variable anywhere else, you
could simply make it a member variable of the inner class itself:public class Outer {
   MouseMoveListener mouseMove= new MouseMoveListener() {
      private int count;
      public void mouseMove(MouseEvent me) {
         count++;
         System.out.println(count);
}kind regards,
Jos

Inner class variable access

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