classes and objects

class

blueprint or template for creating objects, describes what data an object can store and what actions it can perform

object

a specific instance created from a class

fields

methods

constructors

a class is made of of

field

variable inside a class that stores data or state

method

block of code inside a class that performs an action

constructor

special block of code that run when an object is created

public

private

protected

access modifiers

public

can be access from outside the class

private

can be accessed only inside the same class

protected

can be accessed within the same package and by subclasses

this

refers to the current object, often used when a constructor parameter has the same name as a class field

new

used to create a new object

encapsulation

protecting object data and controlling access through methods