Use the private modifier

Let’s modify the MyClass example to include a private variable and a private method. The private modifier is used to restrict access to members (fields and methods) only within the same class. Here’s an updated version of MyClass:

public class MyClass {
    // Private variable
    private int myPrivateVariable;

    // Public method to access the private variable
    public void setPrivateVariable(int value) {
        myPrivateVariable = value;
    }

    // Private method
    private void myPrivateMethod() {
        System.out.println("This is a private method.");
    }

    // Public method to invoke the private method
    public void callPrivateMethod() {
        myPrivateMethod();
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        MyClass myObject = new MyClass();

        // Access the private variable through a public method
        myObject.setPrivateVariable(42);

        // Call a public method that invokes the private method
        myObject.callPrivateMethod();
    }
}

In this example:

• myPrivateVariable is a private instance variable, and it can only be accessed or modified within the MyClass itself.
• setPrivateVariable is a public method that allows external code to set the value of myPrivateVariable.
• myPrivateMethod is a private method that can only be called within the MyClass.
• callPrivateMethod is a public method that invokes the private method.

By using the private modifier, you can encapsulate the internal details of your class and control access to its members, promoting a more secure and maintainable code structure.