JavaRanch question #208: private variable

[Gian Franco]

Hi,

JRR question #208: Can one object access a private variable
of another object of the same class?
Answer: Yes. Private means "private to the class" NOT
"private to the object". So two objects of the same class
could access each other's private data.

How should the objects do that: access each other's private
data? I must be forgetting something.
Greetings,
Gian Franco

[Corey McGlone]

Here's an example for you:

public class Test
{
    private String myString;
    
    public Test(String s)
    {
        myString = s;
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Test t1 = new Test("A");
        Test t2 = new Test("B");
        
        System.out.println(t1.equals(t2));
    }
    
    public boolean equals(Object o)
    {
        Test t = (Test)o;
        if ( myString.equals(t.myString) )  // 1
        {
            return true;
        }
        else
        {
            return false;
        }
    }
}

You can see, in line 1, we're directly accessing the private member of another object. This can be done because this code is executing within the definition of that class. Outside this class, it can't be done.
I hope that helps,
Corey

[Gian Franco]

Thanks Corey,
I was looking at it with two objects instantiated
outside the class, thereby forgetting the option
you mentioned.
Greetings,
Gian Franco