Private Methods in Java 9 Interfaces

Java 9 onwards, you can include private methods in interfaces. Before Java 9 it was not possible.

Interfaces till Java 7

In Java SE 7 or earlier versions, an interface can have only two things i.e. Constant variables and Abstract methods. These interface methods MUST be implemented by classes which choose to implement the interface.

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Java 8 Interface Changes

Some new features to interface were introduced in Java 8 i.e. Default methods and Static methods feature. In Java 8, an interface can have only four types:

1. Constant variables
2. Abstract methods
3. Default methods
4. Static methods

Example

OUTPUT : Answer by Abstract method = 4
         Answer by Default method = 4
         Answer by Static method = 4

Java 9 Interface Changes

Java 9 introduced private methods and private static method in interfaces. In Java 9 and later versions, an interface can have six different things:

1. Constant variables
2. Abstract methods
3. Default methods
4. Static methods
5. Private methods
6. Private Static methods

These private methods will improve code re-usability inside interfaces and will provide choice to expose only our intended methods implementations to users.These methods are only accessible within that interface only and cannot be accessed or inherited from an interface to another interface or class.








// Java 9 program to illustrate // private methods in interfaces public interface TempI {        public abstract void mul(int a, int b);    public default void     add(int a, int b)     { // private method inside default method         sub(a, b);      // static method inside other non-static method         div(a, b);         System.out.print("Answer by Default method = ");         System.out.println(a + b);     }        public static void mod(int a, int b)     {         div(a, b); // static method inside other static method         System.out.print("Answer by Static method = ");         System.out.println(a % b);     }        private void sub(int a, int b)     {         System.out.print("Answer by Private method = ");         System.out.println(a - b);     }        private static void div(int a, int b)     {         System.out.print("Answer by Private static method = ");         System.out.println(a / b);     } }    class Temp implements TempI {        @Override     public void mul(int a, int b)     {         System.out.print("Answer by Abstract method = ");         System.out.println(a * b);     }        public static void main(String[] args)     {         TempI in = new Temp();         in.mul(2, 3);         in.add(6, 2);         TempI.mod(5, 3);     } }

OUTPUT : Answer by Abstract method = 6              // mul(2, 3) = 2*3 = 6
         Answer by Private method = 4               // sub(6, 2) = 6-2 = 4 
         Answer by Private static method = 3        // div(6, 2) = 6/2 = 3
         Answer by Default method = 8               // add(6, 2) = 6+2 = 8
         Answer by Private static method = 1        // div(5, 3) = 5/3 = 1 
         Answer by Static method = 2                // mod(5, 3) = 5%3 = 2

 
Rules For using Private Methods in Interfaces

• Private interface method cannot be abstract and no private and abstract modifiers together.
• Private method can be used only inside interface and other static and non-static interface methods.
• Private non-static methods cannot be used inside private static methods.
• We should use private modifier to define these methods and no lesser accessibility than private modifier.

 
So, from above it can be concluded that java 9 private interface methods can be static or instance. In both cases, the private method is not inherited by sub-interfaces or implementations. They are mainly there to improve code re-usability within interface only – thus improving encapsulation.