When should I use public or private access modifiers in Java?

Can you explain when to use public or private access modifiers in Java?

In Java, use 'public' when you want a class or member to be accessible from any other class. Use 'private' to restrict access to the class itself.

What are the benefits of using private access?

Using 'private' helps encapsulate your data, protecting it from unauthorized access and reducing the risk of unintended interference.

Are there any scenarios where I should use protected instead?

Yes, use 'protected' when you want to allow access to subclasses and classes in the same package, but not to the world.

Can you give an example of each access modifier?

Sure! For 'public', you might have a public method in a utility class. For 'private', a method that handles sensitive data. For 'protected', a method in a base class that subclasses can use.