Final keyword in Java (Final class, method and variable)

In this article we discuss about what is final keyword, why final keyword is used.

What is final in Java? | What is final class, method and variable?

In java final is like constant.

In java final keyword used with following ways:-

1. final class
   
2. final variable
3. final methods

If final used in java following restriction happens:-

• If final use with class then that class can not inherited.
• If final use with variable then we can not change its value.
• If final use with method then we can not override.

In java, String is immutable means we can not change its value. You can see String class is final class.

Lets see all of them.

Final Class

When class declared with final keyword, it is called final class.

If class declared with final then that class does not inherited means another class can not extends final class.

If we extends final class then it programs give compile time error.

Example :- Final Class

final class FinalClass {
   
}

public class FinalDemo extends FinalClass{
   
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Final class demo");
    }

}

Output :-

Compile time error

Final Variable

When variable declared with final then it is called final variable.

Once we declare variable final then we can not change its value again. And if we try to assign another value then we get compile time error.

If we declare variable final then we have to compulsory assign value to variable otherwise it shows error.

But in constructor, static block it is not compulsory to assign value to final variable.

In java, Wrapper class are final. like Integer, Float, Double.

lets see example of final variable.

Example :- Final Variable

public class FinalDemo{
   
    public static void main(String[] args) {
       
        // final variable with assign value
        final String finalVariable = "Programming Blog";

        // Change the value of final variable.

        finalVariable = "a";
        System.out.println(finalVariable);
    }

}

Output :-

Compile time error

When to use final variable

The only difference between a normal variable and a final variable is that we can re-assign value to a normal variable but we cannot change the value of a final variable once assigned. Hence final variables must be used only for the values that we want to remain constant throughout the execution of program.

Final Method

When method declare with final it is called final method. Final method can not be overridden. means we can not override final methods.

Overriding means same method name and arguments but in different class.

Lets see example of override in java

Example :- Override in java

public class OverrideDemo {

    public void methodOne() {
        System.out.println("Method one in base class");
    }

}

public class Demo extends OverrideDemo {
   
    public void methodOne() {
        System.out.println("Method one in child class");
    }
   
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Demo obj = new Demo ();
        obj.methodOne();
       
    }
}

Output :-

Method one in child class

Now lets see example of final method in java.

Example :- Final Method

public class FinalMethodDemo {

    public final void finalMethod() {
        System.out.println("Final method in base class");
    }

}

public class FinalDemo extends FinalMethodDemo{
   
    public void finalMethod() {
        System.out.println("Final method in child class");
    }
   
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        FinalDemo obj = new FinalDemo();
        obj.finalMethod();
    }

}

Output :-

Compile time error

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