What is the difference between nested and inner classes?

What is the difference between nested and inner classes?

Nested classes are defined within another class, while inner classes are a type of nested class that has access to the outer class's members.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! A nested class can be static and doesn't need an instance of the outer class. An inner class, however, requires an instance of the outer class to be created.

Why would I use an inner class instead of a nested class?

Inner classes are useful when you need to access the outer class's instance variables or methods directly, which can simplify your code.

Are there any performance differences between them?

Generally, inner classes may have a slight overhead due to their reference to the outer class, but the difference is usually negligible.