Access Modifier

An access modifier is a piece of code used to specify the access permissions of a name.

Related concepts:  Name

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Access modifiers — Access modifiers (or access specifiers) are keywords in object-oriented languages that set the accessibility of classes, methods, and other members. Access modifiers are a specific part of programming language syntax used to facilitate the encapsulation of components.In C++, there are only three access modifiers. C# extends the number of them to six, while Java has four access modifiers, but three keywords for this purpose.

Misconceptions about Access Modifier

5 documented Misconceptions

ControlledLocalAccess

One can control access to local variables using access modifiers

PrivateFieldsImplyImmutability

A class where all fields are private is immutable

PrivateFromOtherInstance

An object cannot access private members of other objects of the same class

PrivateFromStatic

Static methods cannot access private members of instances of same class

PrivateMeansFinal

A private field cannot be changed