Instance Variable : A variable that belongs to the instance of a class. That means it is a variable that is created inside the class but outside the method. Such a variable is known as instance variable.
Now the difference between a Local variable and instance variable is that Local variables are declared in methods, constructors, or blocks unlike Instance variables
.
Instance variables are declared in a
class, but outside a method, constructor or any block.
Each instantiated object of the class has a separate
copy, or instance. An instance variable is similar to and contrasts with a class
variable.
Instance variable is
created in the memory at run time . Instance variable doesn't get memory at
compile time.
It gets memory at runtime when object(instance) is
created.That is why, it is known as instance variable.
They do NOT have "static" field modifier.
One object instance can change values of its instance
variables without affecting all other instances. Instance variables can be used
by all methods of a class unless the method is declared as static.
Example of Instance
variable
class Car {
public String RedCar;
// instance variable with public access
private int BlueCar;
// instance variable with private access
}
Links
to useful posts:
·
Abstraction
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