Jul 22

Protected within Java Enums

Category: Java, Programming

I just noticed that java enums allow protected member variables and methods. Why is this interesting? Can you think of any code that might actually make use of a protected member in an enum (as opposed to private)? Example after the jump (warning, not practical…).

package enumerations;
 
public enum ExampleEnum{
    FIRST{
    	protected int getNumber(){
    		return 3;
    	}
    },SECOND, THIRD;
 
    public void printNumber(){
    	System.out.println(getNumber());
    }
 
    protected int getNumber(){
        return -1;
    }
 
    public static void main(String []args){
    	FIRST.printNumber();
    	SECOND.printNumber();
    	THIRD.printNumber();
    }
}

This will print out

3
-1
-1

The enumeration-specific implementation is basically a subclass of the enumeration itself and can override protected methods. I’m finding it hard to think of a practical reason to do this, but still:)

No comments

No Comments

Leave a comment