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javainner-classesnested-class

Instantiating static nested classes

This class 

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Main m = new Main();
        m.new A();
        m.new B();    //1 - compilation error

        new Main.B();
    }

    class A{}
    static class B{}  //2
}

will result in a compile time error at line 1:

Illegal enclosing instance specification for type Main.B

But I cannot understand why, I find it a bit counterintuitive: at line 2 we have a static class definition, shouldn'it be accessible from object m as well?

Edit

If Main had a static variable i, m.i wouldn't result in a compilation error. Why is the behaviour different with class definition?

Solution

  • No.

    The whole point of a static inner class is that it doesn't have an instance of the enclosing class.