Какое отличие между модификаторами доступа package-private и protected в Java?

In Java, access modifiers package-private (absence of explicit modifier) and protected differ in scope:

• package-private (default when no modifier is specified):

  • Accessible only within the same package.
  • Classes from other packages do not see this member.

• protected:

  • Accessible within the same package (like package-private).
  • Additionally accessible in subclasses, even if they are in different packages.

Thus, protected extends the scope compared to package-private, allowing subclasses in other packages to access protected members.

Example:

package pkg1;
public class A {
    int packagePrivateVar; // package-private
    protected int protectedVar;
}

package pkg2;
import pkg1.A;
public class B extends A {
    void method() {
        // packagePrivateVar is not accessible because B is in another package
        // protectedVar is accessible because B is a subclass of A
        int x = protectedVar;
    }
}