Java Inner class shadowing external class in the same .java file

Question

Consider:

    package test;
    class Same {
        void method() {
            System.out.println("outer");
        }
    }

    public class Main {
        class Same {
            void method() {
                System.out.println("middle");
            }
        }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
            new Same().method(); // Compile time Exception: No enclosing instance of type Main is accessible
        }
    }

I know that the Inner class 'shadows' the outer class 'Same', thus why I'm getting compile error. I would like to know is it possible to create an instance of 'outer Same' in Main. If yes, how? Thanks.

p.s. I appreciate your answers, but, please first try the code you are suggesting. Also, I know how to change the code to make it work, I need to understand current situation without any change (like keeping the classes in different files).

Answer 1

You need to prefix with the package name (suppose the outer Same is in the test package):

public static void main(String[] args) {
    new test.Same().method(); 
}

This will print "outer".

Answer 2

You need to write

new Main().new Same().method();

In order to instantiate Same class you need an instance of the Main class. Alternative you can declare Same class as a static class

static class Same {...}

Answer 3

Repackage the Top Level Same

package outer;


 public class Same {
        public void method() {
            System.out.println("outer");
        }
    }

Then create an instance using the fully qualified name:

public class Main {
    class Same {
        void method() {
            System.out.println("middle");
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new outer.Same().method();
    }
}

Or as others have mentioned avoid using the same name for the classes.

Answer 4

A static method cannot refer non static method either you make the non static as static ie.,static class Same {...} or create an object of that non static method and call from static method ie.,new Main().new Same().method();.

Answer 5

package somePackage;

public class SO1 {

    class Same{

    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new somePackage.Same(); //use qualified name
    }
}

class Same{

}

Use the Fully qualified name to outer Same, which is somePackage.Same and that will allow you to refer to outer Same

Answer 6

The error comes because the main method is static, you either need to make Same static or create a new Main() to have Same() inside.

To answer the rest of the question, see this example:

class Test {

    class Same {
        void inner() {

        }
    }

    class Nested {
        class Same {
            void veryInner() {

            }
        }

        void doTest() {
            new Same().veryInner();
            new Test.Same().inner();
        }
    }

     void doTest() {
         new Nested().new Same().veryInner();
         new Same().inner();
     }
}

You can see that the nested shadowing classes do work and that you can access them just by using the right level of nesting.

Answer 7

class Same {
    void method() {
        System.out.println("outer");
    }
}

public class Main {
    static class Same {
        void method() {
            System.out.println("middle");
        }
    }

public static void main(String[] args) {
        new Same().method(); // Compile time Exception: No enclosing instance of type Main is accessible
    }
}

===============================================

main is the static method you must create static class than you create object

Answer 8

Your class is in package test, all you need to do is use

new com.test.Same().method(); 

If your classes are in the default package, ie. no package declaration. Then you can't access the outer Same.