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Where exactly should we use protected classes?

Kunaal A Trehan
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Joined: Feb 04, 2004
Posts: 63
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Can some one explain me when exactly we shd go for the protected classes?
A use case will help me alot

Rgds
Kunal
Ernest Friedman-Hill
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Joined: Jul 08, 2003
Posts: 23242

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Inner classes can be "protected" but top-level classes can't. Are you talking about protected inner classes, or are you simply talking about non-public classes?

In any case, this is the sort of question entertained in our OO, Patterns, UML, and Refactoring" forum. I'll move this post there for you.

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Ilja Preuss
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Joined: Jul 11, 2001
Posts: 14112
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I don't think I've ever used a protected class of any kind. My guess is that it exists more for reasons of language consistency and less for reasons of actual *need*.

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny - it is the light that guides your way. - Heraclitus
 
 
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