Why can't I use protected constructors outside the package?

Question

Why can't I use protected constructors outside the package for this piece of code:

package code;
public class Example{
    protected Example(){}
    ...
}

Check.java

package test;
public class Check extends Example {
  void m1() {
     Example ex=new Example(); //compilation error
  }
}

1. Why do i get the error even though i have extended the class? Please explain

EDIT:

Compilation error:

The constructor Example() is not visible

Answer 1

protected modifier is used only with in the package and in sub-classes outside the package. When you create a object using Example ex=new Example(); it will call parent class constructor by default.

As parent class constructor being protected you are getting a compile time error. You need to call the protected constructor according to JSL 6.6.2.2 as shown below in example 2.

package Super;

public class SuperConstructorCall {

    protected SuperConstructorCall() {
    }

}

package Child;

import Super.SuperConstructorCall;

public class ChildCall extends SuperConstructorCall
{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        SuperConstructorCall s = new SuperConstructorCall(); // Compile time error saying SuperConstructorCall() has protected access in SuperConstructorCall
    }
}

Example 2 conforming to JLS 6.6.2.2:

package Super;

    public class SuperConstructorCall {

    protected SuperConstructorCall() {
    }

}

package Child;

import Super.SuperConstructorCall;

public class ChildCall extends SuperConstructorCall
{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        SuperConstructorCall s = new SuperConstructorCall(){}; // This will work as the access is by an anonymous class instance creation expression 
    }
}