Limit visibility to subclasses only in Java

Question

In Java, the protected keyword limits the visibility of a field or method to the subclasses and the whole package.

Is there a way to limit the visibility only to subclasses, in a static way (i.e. at compilation time, without integrating runtime access control logic within the method)? In other words, is there a way to simulate the behaviour of a (friendless) C++-like protected modifier?

C++ : "Where `friend`s have access to your `private` members". — bvdb, Aug 26 '15 at 08:06

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 26 '15 at 08:01

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No, unfortunately there isn't any. As you have said, protected gives access also to classes in the same package.

answered Aug 26 '15 at 08:01

Andrea Bergia

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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 26 '15 at 08:02

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Short answer : no. Just exclude of the package the classes you don't want to be able to see the methods.

answered Aug 26 '15 at 08:02

Dici

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Why a downvote ? The answer is as valid as the other one – Dici Aug 26 '15 at 19:19

Limit visibility to subclasses only in Java

2 Answers2