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Java - Class Attributes

Java class attributes are variables that define the state of a class and are accessible within class methods. They can be declared using an access modifier, modified, and accessed through objects using the dot operator. Additionally, class attributes can be made read-only by using the final keyword during declaration.

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Java - Class Attributes

Java class attributes are variables that define the state of a class and are accessible within class methods. They can be declared using an access modifier, modified, and accessed through objects using the dot operator. Additionally, class attributes can be made read-only by using the final keyword during declaration.

Uploaded by

sachinghatke921
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Java - Class Attributes

Java Class Attributes


Java class attributes are the variables that are bound in a class i.e., the variables which are used to
define a class are class attributes.

A class attribute defines the state of the class during program execution. A class attribute is
accessible within class methods by default.

For example, there is a class "Student" with some data members (variables) like roll_no, age, and
name. These data members are considered class attributes.

Creating (Declaring) Java Class Attributes


To create (declare) a class attribute, use the access modifier followed by the data type and attribute
name. It's similar to declaring a variable.

Syntax

Use the below syntax to declare a class attribute:

access_modifier type attribute_name;

Example: Declaring Java Class Attributes

public class Dog {


String breed;
int age;
String color;

void barking() {
}
void hungry() {
}

void sleeping() {
}
}

In above class, we've fields like breed, age, and color which are also known as class attributes.

Accessing Java Class Attributes


To access the class attribute, you need to create an object first and then use the dot (.) operator
with the object name. Class attributes can be also called within the class methods directly.

Syntax

Use the below syntax to access a class attribute:

object_name.attribute_name;

Example: Accessing Java Class Attributes

Consider this example, demonstrating how to access the class attributes.

class Dog {
// Declaring and initializing the attributes
String breed = "German Shepherd";
int age = 2;
String color = "Black";
}

public class Main {


public static void main(String[] args) {
// Creating an object of the class Dog
Dog obj = new Dog();

// Accessing class attributes & printing the values


System.out.println(obj.breed);
System.out.println(obj.age);
System.out.println(obj.color);
}
}

Output

German Shepherd
2
Black

Modifying Java Class Attributes


To modify a class attribute, access the attribute and assign a new value using the assignment (=)
operator.

Syntax

Use the below syntax to modify a class attribute:

object_name.attribute_name = new_value;

Example: Modifying Java Class Attributes

Consider this example, demonstrating how to modify the class attributes.

class Dog {
// Declaring and initializing the attributes
String breed = "German Shepherd";
int age = 2;
String color = "Black";
}

public class Main {


public static void main(String[] args) {
// Creating an object of the class Dog
Dog obj = new Dog();
// Accessing class attributes & printing the values
System.out.println("Before modifying:");
System.out.println(obj.breed);
System.out.println(obj.age);
System.out.println(obj.color);

// Modifying class attributes


obj.breed = "Golden Retriever";
obj.age = 3;
obj.color = "Golden";

// Printing
System.out.println("\nAfter modifying:");
System.out.println(obj.breed);
System.out.println(obj.age);
System.out.println(obj.color);
}
}

Output

Before modifying:
German Shepherd
2
Black

After modifying:
Golden Retriever
3
Golden

Making Java Class Attributes Read Only


You can also make the class attributes read-only by using the final keyword after the access
modifier while declaring an attribute.

Syntax
Use the below syntax to make class attribute read-only:

access_modifier final data_type attribute_name;

Example: Making Java Class Attributes Read Only

In the below example, the name attribute is set to read-only using the final keyword. Now this
attribute can not be modified and JVM will complain if we try to modify this attribute.

package com.tutorialspoint;

class Dog {
final String name = "Tommy";
}

public class Tester {


public static void main(String[] args) {
Dog dog = new Dog();
dog.name = "Tommy"; // Error while modifying name
System.out.println(dog.name);
}
}

Output

Compile and run Tester. This will produce the following result −

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.Error: Unresolved compilation problem:


The final field Dog.name cannot be assigned

at com.tutorialspoint.Tester.main(Tester.java:10)

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