Java this Keyword

❮ Java Keywords

public class Main {
  int x;

  // Constructor with a parameter
  public Main(int x) {
    this.x = x;
  }

  // Call the constructor
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Main myObj = new Main(5);
    System.out.println("Value of x = " + myObj.x);
  }
}

Definition and Usage

The this keyword refers to the current object in a method or constructor.

The most common use of the this keyword is to eliminate the confusion between class attributes and parameters with the same name (because a class attribute is shadowed by a method or constructor parameter). If you omit the keyword in the example above, the output would be "0" instead of "5".

this can also be used to:

• Invoke current class constructor
• Invoke current class method
• Return the current class object
• Pass an argument in the method call
• Pass an argument in the constructor call

Related Pages

Read more about objects in our Java Classes/Objects Tutorial.

Read more about constructors in our Java Constructors Tutorial.

Read more about methods in our Java Methods Tutorial.

❮ Java Keywords