Java using final keyword inside a method

Question

In Java, the keyword final is used to indicate that the variable cannot be reassigned. If that is the case, why can't a variable declared inside a method have the final keyword? Why is this not legal:

public void method()
{ 
  final String x = "name";
}

It could come in handy for long methods.

Answer 1

You can.

public void foo() {
    final String bar = "bar";
}

Will compile just fine.