Java Package
A java package is a group of similar types of classes, interfaces and sub-packages.
Package in java can be categorized in two form, built-in package and user-defined
package.
There are many built-in packages such as java, lang, awt, javax, swing, net, io, util, sql
etc.
Here, we will have the detailed learning of creating and using user-defined packages.
Advantage of Java Package
1) Java package is used to categorize the classes and interfaces so that they can be
easily maintained.
2) Java package provides access protection.
3) Java package removes naming collision.
Simple example of java package
The package keyword is used to create a package in java.
How to access package from another package?
Java Notes ||Compilation By- Milind Bhatt Session 2020-21 1
There are three ways to access the package from outside the package.
1. import package.*;
2. import package.classname;
3. fully qualified name.
1) Using packagename.*
If you use package.* then all the classes and interfaces of this package will be accessible
but not subpackages.
The import keyword is used to make the classes and interface of another package
accessible to the current package.
Example of package that import the packagename.*
1. //save by A.java
2. package pack;
3. public class A{
4. public void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
5. }
1. //save by B.java
2. package mypack;
3. import pack.*;
4.
5. class B{
6. public static void main(String args[]){
7. A obj = new A();
8. obj.msg();
9. }
10. }
Output:Hello
2) Using packagename.classname
If you import package.classname then only declared class of this package will be
accessible.
Example of package by import package.classname
1. //save by A.java
2.
3. package pack;
4. public class A{
Java Notes ||Compilation By- Milind Bhatt Session 2020-21 2
5. public void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
6. }
1. //save by B.java
2. package mypack;
3. import pack.A;
4.
5. class B{
6. public static void main(String args[]){
7. A obj = new A();
8. obj.msg();
9. }
10. }
Output:Hello
3) Using fully qualified name
If you use fully qualified name then only declared class of this package will be accessible.
Now there is no need to import. But you need to use fully qualified name every time
when you are accessing the class or interface.
It is generally used when two packages have same class name e.g. java.util and java.sql
packages contain Date class.
Example of package by import fully qualified name
1. //save by A.java
2. package pack;
3. public class A{
4. public void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
5. }
1. //save by B.java
2. package mypack;
3. class B{
4. public static void main(String args[]){
5. pack.A obj = new pack.A();//using fully qualified name
6. obj.msg();
7. }
8. }
Note: If you import a package, all the classes and interface of that package will be
imported excluding the classes and interfaces of the subpackages. Hence, you need to
import the subpackage as well.
Subpackage in java
Java Notes ||Compilation By- Milind Bhatt Session 2020-21 3
Package inside the package is called the subpackage. It should be created to
categorize the package further.
Access Modifiers in Java
There are two types of modifiers in Java: access modifiers and non-access
modifiers.
The access modifiers in Java specifies the accessibility or scope of a field, method,
constructor, or class. We can change the access level of fields, constructors, methods,
and class by applying the access modifier on it.
There are four types of Java access modifiers:
1. Private: The access level of a private modifier is only within the class. It cannot
be accessed from outside the class.
2. Default: The access level of a default modifier is only within the package. It
cannot be accessed from outside the package. If you do not specify any access
level, it will be the default.
3. Protected: The access level of a protected modifier is within the package and
outside the package through child class. If you do not make the child class, it
cannot be accessed from outside the package.
4. Public: The access level of a public modifier is everywhere. It can be accessed
from within the class, outside the class, within the package and outside the
package.
There are many non-access modifiers, such as static, abstract, synchronized, native,
volatile, transient, etc. Here, we are going to learn the access modifiers only.
Private Default (No Protected Public
Modifier)
Same Class Y Y Y Y
Same package Y Y Y
Subclass
Same Package Y Y Y
Visibility Level
Non-Subclass
Different Package Y Y
Subclass
Different Package Y
Non-Subclass
Program based on Access modifier and class visibility corelation program
Java Notes ||Compilation By- Milind Bhatt Session 2020-21 4
