Nested classes allow one class to be defined within another. There are several types of nested classes in Java including static nested classes, inner classes, local classes, and anonymous classes. Static nested classes cannot access non-static members of the outer class but inner classes can. Local classes are defined within a method and anonymous classes do not have a name but inherit from a class or implement an interface.

1. Programming in Java
Nested Classes

2. Contents
• Nested Class
• Static Nested Class
• Inner Class
• Local Class
• Anonymous Class

3. Nested/Inner Class
• The Java programming language allows us to define
a class within another class. Such a class is
called a nested class.
Example:
class OuterClass
{
...
class NestedClass
{
...
}
}

4. Advantages of Java Inner Classes
1) Nested classes represent a special type of
relationship that is it can access all the
members (data members and methods) of
outer class including private.
2) Nested classes are used to develop more
readable and maintainable code because it
logically group classes and interfaces in one
place only.
3) Code Optimization: It requires less code to
write.

5. Types of Nested Classes
• A nested class is a member of its enclosing class.
• Nested classes are divided into two categories:
– Static
– Non-Static
• Nested classes that are declared static are simply
called static nested classes.
• Non-static nested classes are called Inner classes.

6. Why Use Nested Classes?
• Logical grouping of classes —If a class is useful to only
one other class, then it is logical to embed it in that class and
keep the two together.
• Increased Encapsulation —Consider two top-level classes,
A and B, where B needs access to members of A that would
otherwise be declared private. By hiding class B within class
A, A's members can be declared private and B can access
them. In addition, B itself can be hidden from the outside
world.
• More readable, maintainable code —Nesting small classes
within top-level classes places the code closer to where it is
used.

7. Static Nested Classes
• A static class i.e. created inside a class is called
static nested class in java. It cannot access non-
static data members and methods. It can be
accessed by outer class name.
• It can access static data members of outer class
including private.
• Static nested class cannot access non-static
(instance) data member or method.

8. Static Nested Classes
• A static nested class is associated with its outer class similar
to class methods and variables.
• A static nested class cannot refer directly to instance variables
or methods defined in its enclosing class.
• It can use them only through an object reference.
• Static nested classes are accessed using the enclosing class
name:
OuterClass.StaticNestedClass
• For example, to create an object for the static nested class,
use this syntax:
OuterClass.StaticNestedClass nestedObject =
new OuterClass.StaticNestedClass();

9. class TestOuter1
{
static int data=30;
static class Inner
{
void msg(){System.out.println("data is "+data);}
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
TestOuter1.Inner obj=new TestOuter1.Inner();
obj.msg();
}
} Output: data is 30

10. Inner Classes
• An inner class is associated with an instance of its enclosing
class and has direct access to that object's methods and
fields.
• Because an inner class is associated with an instance, it
cannot define any static members itself.
• Objects that are instances of an inner class exist within an
instance of the outer class.
• Consider the following classes:
class OuterClass {
...
class InnerClass { ... }
}

11. • An instance of InnerClass can exist only within an instance of
OuterClass and has direct access to the methods and fields of
its enclosing instance.
• To instantiate an inner class, we must first instantiate the
outer class. Then, create the inner object within the outer
object.
• Syntax:
OuterClass.InnerClass innerObject =
outerObject.new InnerClass();

12. class TestMemberOuter1
{
private int data=30;
class Inner
{
void msg(){System.out.println("data is "+data);}
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
TestMemberOuter1 obj=new TestMemberOuter1();
TestMemberOuter1.Inner in=obj.new Inner();
in.msg();
}
}

13. • Additionally, there are two special kinds of inner
classes:
– Local Classes and
– Anonymous Classes (also called anonymous inner
classes).

14. Local Classes
• A class i.e. created inside a method is called local inner class in
java. If you want to invoke the methods of local inner class, you
must instantiate this class inside the method.
• Local classes are classes that are defined in a block, which is a
group of zero or more statements between balanced braces.
• For example, we can define a local class in a method body, a for
loop, or an if clause.
• A local class has access to the members of its enclosing class.
• A local class has access to local variables. However, a local class
can only access local variables that are declared final.

15. Important
• A local class has access to local variables. However, a
local class can only access local variables that are
declared final.
• Starting in Java SE 8, a local class can access local
variables and parameters of the enclosing block that are
final or effectively final.
• A variable or parameter whose value is never changed
after it is initialized is effectively final.

16. public class localInner1
{
private int data=30;//instance variable
void display(){
class Local
{
void msg(){System.out.println(data);}
}
Local l=new Local();
l.msg();
}
public static void main(String args[]){
localInner1 obj=new localInner1();
obj.display();
}
}

17. Rules for Local Inner Class
• Local variable can't be private, public or protected.
• Local inner class cannot be invoked from outside the
method.
• Local inner class cannot access non-final local
variable till JDK 1.7. Since JDK 1.8, it is possible to
access the non-final local variable in local inner
class.

18. Anonymous Classes
• A class that have no name is known as
anonymous inner class in java. It should
be used if you have to override method of
class or interface. Java Anonymous inner
class can be created by two ways:
1. Class (may be abstract or concrete).
2. Interface

19. Anonymous Classes
• Anonymous classes enable us to declare and instantiate a
class at the same time.
• They are like local classes except that they do not have a
name.
• The anonymous class expression consists of the following:
1. The new operator
2. The name of an interface to implement or a class to extend.
3. Parentheses that contain the arguments to a constructor,
just like a normal class instance creation expression.
4. A body, which is a class declaration body. More specifically,
in the body, method declarations are allowed but statements
are not.

20.  Anonymous classes have the same access to local variables of the
enclosing scope as local classes:
• An anonymous class has access to the members of its enclosing class.
• An anonymous class cannot access local variables in its enclosing scope
that are not declared as final.
 Anonymous classes also have the same restrictions as local classes
with respect to their members:
• We cannot declare static initializers or member interfaces in an anonymous
class.
• An anonymous class can have static members provided that they are
constant variables.
 Note that we can declare the following in anonymous classes:
• Fields
• Extra methods (even if they do not implement any methods of the
supertype)
• Local classes
• We cannot declare constructors in an anonymous class.

21. abstract class Person
{
abstract void eat();
}
class TestAnonymousInner
{
public static void main(String args[])
{ // Inside a method(main) only, Anonymous class is declared
Person p=new Person() //Statement do not end with
semicolon(as we cant create object for abstract class or interface)
{
void eat(){System.out.println("nice fruits");} Anonymous Inner Class
(only body is there without
identity)
};
p.eat();
}
}

22. • Generation of class Files:
• Person.class
• Person $ 1.class (For Anonymous class,
as they don’t have any name,
automatically no's will be assigned)

23. • Internal working of given code
Person p=new Person()
{
void eat(){System.out.println("nice fruits");}
};
• A class is created but its name is decided by the compiler
which extends the Person class and provides the
implementation of the eat() method.
• An object of Anonymous class is created that is referred by p
reference variable of Person type.

24. interface Eatable
{
void eat();
}
class TestAnnonymousInner1
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Eatable e=new Eatable() //No Semicolon
{
public void eat(){System.out.println("nice fruits");}
};
e.eat();
}
}

25. Note:
When we compile a nested class, two different class files
will be created with names
Outerclass.class
Outerclass$Nestedclass.class
• Local Class is named as Outerclass$1Localclass.class
• Anonymous class is named as Outerclass$1.class