What is variable scope in Java?

Can you explain what variable scope means in Java?

Sure! Variable scope in Java refers to the visibility and lifetime of a variable within a program. It determines where a variable can be accessed.

What are the different types of variable scope in Java?

In Java, there are three main types of variable scope: local scope, instance scope, and class scope. Local variables are accessible only within the method they are declared in, instance variables belong to an object and can be accessed by all methods in the class, and class variables are shared among all instances of a class.

Can you give me an example of each type of variable scope?

Of course! For local scope, a variable declared inside a method is local to that method. For instance scope, a variable declared in a class but outside any method is an instance variable. For class scope, a static variable declared with the 'static' keyword is a class variable.

How does variable scope affect memory management in Java?

Variable scope affects memory management by determining when variables are created and destroyed. Local variables are created when a method is called and destroyed when it exits, while instance and class variables persist as long as their objects exist.