inter-method communication : Java Glossary

Interclass

• Have one class extend another. Then the subclass can see the superclass’s non-private methods.
• A class in the same package can see non-private variables in classes of another package. (Not recommended.)
• A class in the same package can see non-private getter/setter static/instance methods of another class.
• A class in a different package can see public getter/setter static/instance methods of another class.

It quite difficult to change your mind later between static/instance methods. The code to invoke them is quite different and cannot be mechanically changed.

Intraclass

Within in a class, you can communicate by:

• parameters/returned results
• static variables
• instance variables

Refactoring to convert a parameter propagated all over to an instance variable or back is very tedious. Think carefully before you start.