Access Modifiers

Class Access Modifiers

• An access modifier is a keyword that prefixes a class name, and is used to restrict the access to the class.

• Below definitions are NOT complete and are shortened for a first-time learner's convenience.

• A thorough explanation is found here.

  • public - Can be accessed from any other class.

  • protected - Can only be accessed by code in the same class, or in a derived class.

  • internal - Can be accessed by any code in the same assembly, but not from another assembly.

public class MyPublicClass
{
}

internal class MyInternalClass
{
}

Member Access Modifiers

• Within a class, members (such as member variables or methods) must also be declared with an access modifier.

• As seen below, public members can be accessed but private members cannot.