A class defined within a method

[Kasey Tritt]

What is really meant by the term "a class defined within a method"? This term is sometimes used in the exam.
Definitions
Local Classes are specific to a block of code. Their visibility is only within the block of their declaration.
Anonymous classes are classes which have no name. They combine the process of definition and instantiation into a single step.
Does anyone know the term "a class defined within a method" refers to a local class or anonymous class or both?

[Corey McGlone]

Originally posted by Kasey Tritt:
Does anyone know the term "a class defined within a method" refers to a local class or anonymous class or both?

A class defined within a method could be either a local class or an anonymous class. Here is an example where one of each is defined within a method:

// Local class
public int someMethod() 
{
   class LocalClass
   {
      int x = 1;
 
      public int getX() {return x;}
   }
 
   return new LocalClass().getX();
}
 
// Anonymous class
public void doIt()
{
   Button b = new Button("Push Me");
   // Here's the anonymous class
   b.addActionListener(
      new ActionListener()
      {
         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
         {
            // Do something
         }
      }
   );

You see, both local classes and anonymous classes can be defined within a method. However, in general, when someone is referring to a class defined within a method, I would presume their talking about a local class, which is the first example.
I hope that helps,
Corey

[Kasey Tritt]

That certainly helps!
Thanks, Corey.