Field

A field is a variable that is a member of a class and may be part of an object.

Related concepts:  VariableMemberClassObject

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Field (computer science) — In data hierarchy, a field (data field) is a variable in a record. A record, also known as a data structure, allows logically related data to be identified by a single name. Identifying related data as a single group is central to the construction of understandable computer programs.

Misconceptions about Field

21 documented Misconceptions

AddMemberAtRuntime

Set of class members can change at runtime

ArrayHasLengthMethod

To get the length of an array, one needs to call its length method

CannotChainMemberAccesses

Member accesses cannot be chained together

CannotChainMemberToConstructor

Method calls or field accesses cannot be chained to a constructor invocation

ConstructorParameterIsField

Formal constructor parameters are equivalent to instance variables

MethodAsField

Each object contains its own special fields for all of its methods

MustInitializeFieldInConstructor

Constructors must assign values to all fields

NoFieldInheritance

An object contains only the fields declared in its class

NoFieldlessObjects

Objects without instance variables can't exist

NoMethodInheritance

Subclasses inherit fields but not methods

PrivateAccessibleInSubclass

Private members of a superclass are accessible from a subclass

PrivateFieldsImplyImmutability

A class where all fields are private is immutable

PrivateMeansFinal

A private field cannot be changed

RightToLeftChaining

Chained accesses are invoked from right to left

StringLengthField

One can know the length of a String object by accessing its length field

ThisAsField

this is a special field in the object