finalize access specifiers protected/private/public

[Siva kandasamy]

Hi There,
Refer the example #1 "Finalize.java" below. Change the finalize method with following piece of code
ie.
void finalize(){
System.out.println("finalize-TestA");
}
OR
private void finalize(){
System.out.println("finalize-TestA");
}

The question is, If we do that, we get compilation error. Please help me to understand, why do I get compilation error; if I use access specified other than public or protected.
Hope my question make sense.
Thanks in Advance
Siva

*********** Example #1 **************************
// Finalize.java

class TestA {
TestA(){
System.out.println("TestA");
}
void Hello(){
System.out.println("Hello-TestA");
}

protected void finalize(){
System.out.println("finalize-TestA");
}
}
class Finalize {
Finalize(){
System.out.println("Finalize");
}

public static void main(){
System.out.println("finalize-TestA");
}
}
********************************************
[ January 02, 2003: Message edited by: Sivanantham kandan ]

[Cindy Glass]

If the method is private then only the class itself can call it. This is a reserved method that is ONLY to be called by the gc. For the gc to get AT it, it needs to have an appropriate accessibility.

[Ilja Preuss]

Because finalize is declared protected in java.lang.Object and Java doesn't allow you to reduce visibility in subclasses.

[Siva kandasamy]

Make sense. Thanks.
-siva
[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Sivanantham kandan ]