Nested Classes in Java

Last Updated : 26 Jul, 2023

In Java, it is possible to define a class within another class, such classes are known as nested classes. They enable you to logically group classes that are only used in one place, thus this increases the use of encapsulation and creates more readable and maintainable code.

The scope of a nested class is bounded by the scope of its enclosing class. Thus in the below example, the class NestedClass does not exist independently of the class OuterClass.
A nested class has access to the members, including private members, of the class in which it is nested. But the enclosing class does not have access to the member of the nested class.
A nested class is also a member of its enclosing class.
As a member of its enclosing class, a nested class can be declared private, public, protected, or package-private(default).
Nested classes are divided into two categories:
1. static nested class: Nested classes that are declared static are called static nested classes.
2. inner class: An inner class is a non-static nested class.

Syntax:

class OuterClass
{
...
    class NestedClass
    {
        ...
    }
}

Static nested classes

In the case of normal or regular inner classes, without an outer class object existing, there cannot be an inner class object. i.e., an object of the inner class is always strongly associated with an outer class object. But in the case of static nested class, Without an outer class object existing, there may be a static nested class object. i.e., an object of a static nested class is not strongly associated with the outer class object. As with class methods and variables, a static nested class is associated with its outer class. And like static class methods, 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. They 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();

Below is the implementation of the above method:

Java

// Java program to demonstrate accessing
// a static nested class
 
// outer class
class OuterClass {
    // static member
    static int outer_x = 10;
 
    // instance(non-static) member
    int outer_y = 20;
 
    // private member
    private static int outer_private = 30;
 
    // static nested class
    static class StaticNestedClass {
        void display()
        {
            // can access static member of outer class
            System.out.println("outer_x = " + outer_x);
 
            // can access private static member of
            // outer class
            System.out.println("outer_private = "
                               + outer_private);
 
            // The following statement will give compilation
            // error as static nested class cannot directly
            // access non-static members
            // System.out.println("outer_y = " + outer_y);
           
              // Therefore create object of the outer class 
              // to access the non-static member
              OuterClass out = new OuterClass();
              System.out.println("outer_y = " + out.outer_y);
           
           
        }
    }
}
 
// Driver class
public class StaticNestedClassDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // accessing a static nested class
        OuterClass.StaticNestedClass nestedObject
            = new OuterClass.StaticNestedClass();
 
        nestedObject.display();
    }
}

Output

outer_x = 10
outer_private = 30
outer_y = 20

Inner classes

To instantiate an inner class, you must first instantiate the outer class. Then, create the inner object within the outer object with this syntax:

OuterClass.InnerClass innerObject = outerObject.new InnerClass();

There are two special kinds of inner classes :

Java

// Java program to demonstrate accessing
// a inner class
 
// outer class
class OuterClass {
    // static member
    static int outer_x = 10;
 
    // instance(non-static) member
    int outer_y = 20;
 
    // private member
    private int outer_private = 30;
 
    // inner class
    class InnerClass {
        void display()
        {
            // can access static member of outer class
            System.out.println("outer_x = " + outer_x);
 
            // can also access non-static member of outer
            // class
            System.out.println("outer_y = " + outer_y);
 
            // can also access a private member of the outer
            // class
            System.out.println("outer_private = "
                               + outer_private);
        }
    }
}
 
// Driver class
public class InnerClassDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // accessing an inner class
        OuterClass outerObject = new OuterClass();
       
        OuterClass.InnerClass innerObject
            = outerObject.new InnerClass();
 
        innerObject.display();
    }
}

Output

outer_x = 10
outer_y = 20
outer_private = 30

Comparison between a normal or regular class and a static nested class

S.No.	Normal/Regular inner class	Static nested class
1.	Without an outer class object existing, there cannot be an inner class object. That is, the inner class object is always associated with the outer class object.	Without an outer class object existing, there may be a static nested class object. That is, a static nested class object is not associated with the outer class object.
2.	As the main() method can’t be declared, the regular inner class can’t be invoked directly from the command prompt.	As the main() method can be declared, the static nested class can be invoked directly from the command prompt.
3.	Both static and non-static members of the outer class can be accessed directly.	Only a static member of an outer class can be accessed directly.