# Java Access Modifiers

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-access-modifiers/22821>\
**Category:** Beginners\
**Created:** [July 24, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-access-modifiers/22821 "2020-07-24T18:10:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Markus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Markus](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Markus)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-access-modifiers/22821/1 "2020-07-24T18:10:35Z")

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[https://processing.org/reference/private.html:](https://processing.org/reference/private.html:)

This keyword is used to disallow other classes access to the fields and methods within a class. The **private** keyword is used before a field or method that you want to be available only within the class. …

I tried, but still got access to a private method:

// “main file” ProcessingPrivateTest.pde

void setup () {  
cMyClass myObject = new cMyClass ();  
println (myObject.getX ());  
println (myObject.getY ()); // WHY IS THIS ALLOWED?  
} // \< setup

void draw () {  
} // \< draw

// file cMyClass.pde in same directory (-\> tab above)

class cMyClass {  
int x, y;

cMyClass () {  
x = 8; y = 12;  
} // \< cMyClass::cMyClass

int getX () {  
return x;  
} // \< cMyClass::getX

private int getY () {  
return y;  
} // \< cMyClass::getY  
} // \< class cMyClass

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-access-modifiers/22821/2 "2020-07-24T18:56:50Z")

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> [@Markus](#):
>
> class cMyClass {

There are different types of class - this one is an inner class so the enclosing class (your sketch) has access to all its attributes no matter what the specifier.  
Change the class to a top-levl class with  
`public static class cMyClass {`  
and see what happens

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Markus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Markus](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Markus)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-access-modifiers/22821/3 "2020-07-24T19:02:24Z")

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Thanks for the answer - anyhow after adding “public static” I can still access private method getY from “main” file.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GoToLoop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/gotoloop/32/86_2.png) [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-access-modifiers/22821/4 "2020-07-24T20:31:06Z")

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- Everything inside “.pde” files are concatenated as 1 “.java” file before compilation.
- Also they’re wrapped up as 1 PApplet subclass.
- B/c everything is a member of that 1 class, nothing is actually `private` among them.
- So it’s pretty much moot declaring those members w/ `private` or `protected`.
- However, if any “.pde” member happens to be accessed outside its PApplet subclass, its access level kicks in.
- If you really wish to have access levels on your classes, you’re gonna need to place them on a separate “.java” file, then import them inside a “.pde” file.