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javamethodsmodifiers

What are the maximum number of modifiers, a java method can contain?

There are several modifiers used before declaring a java method such as public, static, synchronized etc.

I just want to know the maximum numbers of modifiers or all the combination of modifiers a java method can contain.

Solution

  • See the Java language spec, chapter 8.4:

    MethodDeclaration:
  {MethodModifier} MethodHeader MethodBody

    and:

     MethodModifier:
 (one of) 
 Annotation public protected private 
 abstract static final synchronized native strictfp

    You can't mix:

    • the access modifiers (so you got one of those 3, or none for package protected)
    • abstract, static, final
    • abstract with (private, static, final, native, strictfp, synchronized)
    • and finally: native and strictfp

    Taking all of that together (thanks to user Andreas for the excellent wording):

    Using regex syntax, we get to:

     [ public | protected | private] static final synchronized [native | strictfp]

    So, the maximum number is 5; and 6 different combinations of those 5 keywords.