keyword called default?

[Thirumalai Muthu]

Is There any Keyword called "default". public,private,protected and default
are called access specifiers. I typed in the following code and got a compiler error. I just want to know whether the default access specifier is implicit or can we use it explicitly? Please clarify on this.
Thanks

    class acd
{
[B]default int i;[/B]
public acd(int a)
{
i=a;
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
acd a=new acd(5);
System.out.println(a.i);
}
}

[ January 08, 2008: Message edited by: Thirumalai Muthu ]

[srinivas sridaragaddi]

hi thirumalai,

Yes default is a key word and you cannot use it as a variable name or as identifier. For further clarity refer K&B book and check in the table listed out.

when you dont specifically mention any access level modifiers then its understood as it has default level access.

ex:
int a; // has default level access
public int a; //has got public access.


i think this helps, before asking any question just refer K&B book, at later stage api , experiment with your own code and then post question.

[Jesper de Jong]

Yes, there is a keyword called "default" but it does not have anything to do with access specifiers (public / protected / private). "default" can be used in a switch block:

switch (value) {
    case 0:
        System.out.println("none");
        break;
 
    case 1:
        System.out.println("one");
        break;
 
    default:
        System.out.println("multiple");
        break;
}

[Marc Wentink]

Talking about keywords, from the top of my head: There is a even cuter keyword: const!

It is not used in anyway, but probably reserved in the creation of Java, and then they never done anything with it. const is a very often used keyword in C++ though, and there it tells the conpiler that a variable is immutable, and the compiler gives you an error when you act against it.

[Alejandro Galvan]

Hi Thirumalai:

Take the Jesper's answer, default is a keyword for a switch statement, when no one of the cases are matched, then the default works. In access modifier default access doesn't have keyword, you just don't write an access modifier and you have it, i.e. int a; has default access.

[Thirumalai Muthu]

Hi guys. Thank you very much for your replies. The reason Why I asked you this question was I was asked the same question in an Interview, But now I understood.Thank you very much

[Raghavan Muthu]

No matter what, the line

default int i;

is a good try and it made you learn! Happy about it

[Thirumalai Muthu]

Yes Raghavan I learnt it and i wont forget it ever in my life

And raghavan you have been really helpful in answering the Ranchers queries and I think you deserve a title more than that of a Ranch hand.
[ January 08, 2008: Message edited by: Thirumalai Muthu ]

[Raghavan Muthu]

That's great Thirumalai Muthu.

My Pleasure