about class declaration

[david hu]

following class is in a file named Base.java, why I didn't put "public" before class declaration and it also could run? Is it necessary to use public before the class containing the main method
class Base{
private void amethod(int iBase){
System.out.println("Base.amethod");
}
public static void main(String argv[]){
System.out.println("OK");
}
}

[Arsho, Ayan]

<code>
Well,let me try to explain. you must put a public for a class with main method if the file has more than one classes defined.
</code>

[Michael Ernest]

Hi David -
It's not a requirement. A class that has "friendly" scope (no explicit declaration) is
accessible to other classes in its package. When you run the JVM in the same directory, you make the classes it initializes to run and your class part of the same default package space.
The public declaration opens access to the class from "anywhere," so while it's more liberal in scope and makes the most sense to use, it's not the only way to get to a main method.
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Michael Ernest, co-author of: The Complete Java 2 Certification Study Guide