Java Variables
Dr BAGAM LAXMAIAH
Variable
• A variable is a named memory location used to store a data value. A
variable can be defined as a container that holds a data value.
• data_type variable_name;
• (or)
• data_type variable_name_1, variable_name_2,...;
• (or)
• data_type variable_name = value;
• (or)
• data_type variable_name_1 = value, variable_name_2 = value,...;
In java programming language
variables are clasiffied as
follows.
There are 4 types:
Local variables
Instance variables or Member variables or Global variables
Static variables or Class variables
Final variables
Local variables
• The variables declared inside a method or a block are known as local
variables. A local variable is visible within the method in which it is
declared. The local variable is created when execution control enters
into the method or block and destroyed after the method or block
execution completed.
LOCAL VARIABLES EXAMPLE
• public class LocalVariables {
• public void show() {
• int a = 10;
• //static int x = 100;
• System.out.println("Inside show method, a = " + a);
• }
• public void display() {
• int b = 20;
• System.out.println("Inside display method, b = " + b);
• // trying to access variable 'a' - generates an ERROR
• System.out.println("Inside display method, a = " + a);
Conti..
• public static void main(String args[]) {
• LocalVariables obj = new LocalVariables();
• obj.show();
• obj.display();
• }
• }
Instance variables or member
variables or global variables
• The variables declared inside a class and outside any method,
constructor or block are known as instance variables or member
variables. These variables are visible to all the methods of the class.
The changes made to these variables by method affects all the
methods in the class. These variables are created separate copy for
every object of that class.
Example:
• public class ClassVariables {
• int x = 100;
• public void show() {
• System.out.println("Inside show method, x = " + x);
• x = x + 100;
• }
• public void display() {
• System.out.println("Inside display method, x = " + x);
• }
• public static void main(String[] args) {
• ClassVariables obj = new ClassVariables();
• obj.show();
• obj.display();
Static variables or Class variables
• A static variable is a variable that declared using static keyword. The
instance variables can be static variables but local variables can not.
Static variables are initialized only once, at the start of the program
execution. The static variable only has one copy per class irrespective
of how many objects we create. The static variable is access by using
class name.
Example
• public class StaticVariablesExample {
• int x, y; // Instance variables
• static int z; // Static variable
• StaticVariablesExample(int x, int y){
• this.x = x;
• this.y = y;
• }
• public void show() {
• int a; // Local variables
• System.out.println("Inside show method,");
• System.out.println("x = " + x + ", y = " + y + ", z = " + z);
• }
Conti..
• public static void main(String[] args) {
• StaticVariablesExample obj_1 = new StaticVariablesExample(10, 20);
• StaticVariablesExample obj_2 = new StaticVariablesExample(100, 200);
• obj_1.show();
• StaticVariablesExample.z = 1000;
• obj_2.show();
• }
•}
Final variables
• A final variable is a variable that declared using final keyword. The
final variable is initialized only once, and does not allow any method
to change it's value again. The variable created using final keyword
acts as constant. All variables like local, instance, and static variables
can be final variables.
Example
• public class FinalVariableExample {
• final int a = 10;
• void show() {
• System.out.println("a = " + a);
• a = 20; //Error due to final variable cann't be modified
• }
• public static void main(String[] args) {
• FinalVariableExample obj = new FinalVariableExample();
• obj.show();
• }
• }
