can we have private methods in an abstract class?

[vijay kumarg]

Is it is possible to declare private methods in an interface?
I studied as , by default all the methods in an interface ar public abstract.

[Prabhu Venkatachalam]

No. you cannot.

Interface is specifies contract which class should adhere when it implements it. so, private method in interface does not make any sense.

[Svend Rost]

Hi,

welcome to the ranch.


I think it would have been faster to write two test programs yourself
compared to posting this question on the Ranch.

Can I have a private method in an abstract class?

public abstract class TesterClass {
private int hi()
{
return 4;
}
}

Can I have a private method in an interface?

public interface InterfaceTest {
private void temp();

}

/Svend Rost

p.s. you remember correctly: Interfaces only allow public and abstract

[Rohit Nath]

interface NewInterface {
       private void foo();
}

NewInterface.java:16: modifier private not allowed here

One advice please try to run these code yourself first and see compilation errors yourself it is of no use if someone tells you directly. It can be fun to see compiler errors yourself at times.

Thanks!
Rohit Nath

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Your subject line asks if you can have private methods in an abstract class -- the answer to that is "yes". As other folks have noted, you can't in an interface.

[Jesper de Jong]

Note that methods declared in an interface are automatically public, even when you don't specify an access specifier:

interface Example {
    // This method is public, even when you don't say so explicitly
    void someMethod();
}

Note that in a class where you implement this interface, you must make the method public, otherwise you get an error:

public class ExampleClass implements Example {
 
    // ExampleClass.java:6: someMethod() in ExampleClass cannot implement someMethod() in Example;
    // attempting to assign weaker access privileges; was public
 
    void someMethod() {
        System.out.println("hello");
    }
}

[Ilja Preuss]

What would you do with a private method in an interface?

[Jeroen T Wenting]

wouldn't you like to know...