What does the protected access modifier mean and in what cases is it used?

The protected access modifier in Java and Android means that the class member (field, method) is accessible within the class itself, in subclasses, and within the same package.

It is used when you need to restrict access to data or methods but still allow subclasses and classes in the same package to use them. This is convenient for organizing extensibility and encapsulation.

Example:

class Parent {
    protected int value = 10;
}

class Child extends Parent {
    void printValue() {
        System.out.println(value); // access to parent's protected field
    }
}