Java protected Keyword

Last Updated : 18 Feb 2026

The protected keyword serves as an access modifier. It can be used with variables, methods, constructors, and inner classes. This modifier provides a level of access control that allows access within the same package and by subclasses, even if they are in different packages.

Usage of protected Keyword

It restricts the visibility of a class and its members. If a class member is marked as protected, it can be accessed by the members of its own class, its subclasses, and classes in the same package. However, it cannot be accessed by any class outside the package.

The methods or data members declared as protected can be accessed from:

Within the same class.
Subclasses of the same packages.
Different classes of the same packages.
Subclasses of different packages.

Syntax

Syntax for a protected Variable

Syntax for a protected Method

protected returntype methodName {
//statements
}

Syntax for a protected Class

protected class ClassName {
   // code 
}

Using the protected keyword in Different Contexts

Example of a Protected Variable

Example

class A {
   protected int score = 200;
}
class B extends A {
   void showScore() {
      System.out.println("The score is: " + score);
   }
}
public class Main {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      B obj = new B();
      obj.showScore();
   }
}

Execute Now

Output:

The score is: 200

Example of a Protected Method

Example

//Parent class
class TestMatch {
    //declaring protected method
    protected void showScore() {
        System.out.println("Score of TestMatch is 400.");
    }
}
//child class
class OneDayMatch extends TestMatch{
    void display() {
        // Accessing protected method of parent class
        showScore(); 
    }
}
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //instance of child class
        OneDayMatch odm = new OneDayMatch ();
        //calling method of child class
        odm.display();
    }
}

Execute Now

Output:

Score of TestMatch is 400.

Example of a Protected Class

Example

//outer class
class OuterClass {
    //protected inner class
    protected class InnerClass {
        //inner class method
        void info() {
            System.out.println("Method of protected class invoked.");
        }
    }
}
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //an instance of an inner class
        OuterClass.InnerClass ic = new OuterClass().new InnerClass();
        //invoking inner class method
        ic.info();
    }
}

Execute Now

Output:

Method of protected class invoked.

Note: In Java, outer classes cannot be declared protected. However, inner classes can be protected.

Example of a Protected Constructor

Example

//parent class
class Parent {
    //protected constructor 
    protected Parent() {
        System.out.println("Parent Class Protected Constructor");
    }
}
//child class
class Child extends Parent {
    //child class construtor
    Child() {
        //calling super class constructor 
        //Accessing protected constructor of the parent class
        super(); 
    }
}
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //creating an instance of the child class
        Child child = new Child();
    }
}

Execute Now

Output:

Parent Class Protected Constructor

Example of Protected in Inter-Package Context

The protected keyword in the context of a package allows subclass access but restricts access from non-subclass classes.

Example

//package 1
package tpointtech1;
public class Parent {
    protected void display() {
        System.out.println("Protected method from the Parent class");
    }
}
//package 2
package tpointtech2;
//imports Parent class from package 1
import tpointtech1.Parent;
public class Child extends Parent {
    //method of the child class
    public void show() {
        //calling method of the Parent class
        //Allowed due to subclassing
        display(); 
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Child child = new Child();
        child.show();
    }
}

Output:

Protected method from the Parent class

Let's see some other scenarios of using protected keyword.

Accessing a Protected Method Without Extending the Parent Class

In the following program, we have created two packages, mypackage1 and mypackage2. In class A, we have declared and defined a protected method show(). Class A is public because we will access it in mypackage2.

Here, note that the method show() will not be accessed because the child class has not inherited its value from the main class. Hence, a RunTimeException will occur.

package mypackage1;
public class A {
	// protected Method
	protected void show()
	{
		System.out.println("tpointtech");
	}
}

package mypackage2;
// import all classes from mypackage1
import mypackage1.*;
class Main {
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		Main obj = new Main();
		obj.show();
	}
}

When we run the above code, we get the RunTimeException.

Accessing a Protected Class

In the following program, we have declared class A as protected and extended this class in mypackage2. When we try to invoke the show() method of class A from the Main class, it shows a Runtime Exception.

package mypackage1;
// protected class
protected class A {
	 void show()
	{
		System.out.println("tpointtech");
	}
}

package mypackage2;
// import all classes from mypackage1
import mypackage1.*;
class Main extends A{
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		Main obj = new Main();
		obj.show();
	}
}

When we run the above code, we get the RunTimeException.

Accessing Method from the Same Package but Different Classes

Example

package mypackage1;
public class A {
	// protected Method
	protected void show()
	{
		System.out.println("tpointtech");
	}
}
class Main {
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		A obj = new A();
		obj.show();
	}
}

Output:

tpointtech

Accessing Method from Different Package

package mypackage1;
public class A {
	// protected Method
	protected void show()
	{
		System.out.println("tpointtech");
	}
}

package mypackage2;
// import all classes from mypackage1
import mypackage1.*;
class Main extends A {
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		Main obj = new Main();
		obj.show();
	}
}

Output:

tpointtech

Accessing a Protected Class by Overriding to Sub-Class Within the Same Package

Example

package mypackage1;
public class A {
	// protected Method
	protected void show()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class");
	}
}
class Main extends A {
// overridden function
    protected void display()
    {
        System.out.println("Child Class ");
    }
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		Main obj = new Main();
		obj.show();
	}
}

Output:

Child Class

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Java protected Keyword

Usage of protected Keyword

Syntax

Using the protected keyword in Different Contexts

Example of a Protected Variable

Example

Example of a Protected Method

Example

Example of a Protected Class

Example

Note: In Java, outer classes cannot be declared protected. However, inner classes can be protected.

Example of a Protected Constructor

Example

Example of Protected in Inter-Package Context

Example

Accessing a Protected Method Without Extending the Parent Class

Accessing a Protected Class

Accessing Method from the Same Package but Different Classes

Example

Accessing Method from Different Package

Accessing a Protected Class by Overriding to Sub-Class Within the Same Package

Example

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Java Misc

Java protected Keyword

Usage of protected Keyword

Syntax

Using the protected keyword in Different Contexts

Example of a Protected Variable

Example

Example of a Protected Method

Example

Example of a Protected Class

Example

Note: In Java, outer classes cannot be declared protected. However, inner classes can be protected.

Example of a Protected Constructor

Example

Example of Protected in Inter-Package Context

Example

Accessing a Protected Method Without Extending the Parent Class

Accessing a Protected Class

Accessing Method from the Same Package but Different Classes

Example

Accessing Method from Different Package

Accessing a Protected Class by Overriding to Sub-Class Within the Same Package

Example

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