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This Keyword in Java

This keyword in Java refers to the current object or instance whose method is being called. It allows accessing members of the current object from within methods or constructors. The this keyword can be used to refer to current class instance variables, invoke constructors, call methods implicitly, pass the current object as an argument, return the current object, and resolve ambiguity between instance variables and parameters.

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NatarajanBalasubramaniyan
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421 views

This Keyword in Java

This keyword in Java refers to the current object or instance whose method is being called. It allows accessing members of the current object from within methods or constructors. The this keyword can be used to refer to current class instance variables, invoke constructors, call methods implicitly, pass the current object as an argument, return the current object, and resolve ambiguity between instance variables and parameters.

Uploaded by

NatarajanBalasubramaniyan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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this keyword in java

There can be a lot of usage of java this keyword. In


java, this is a reference variable that refers to the
current object.

Using the this Keyword


Within an instance method or a constructor, this is a
reference to the current object — the object whose
method or constructor is being called.You can refer
to any member of the current object from within an
instance method or a constructor by using this.
What is this

this is a keyword in Java. Which can be


used inside method or constructor of class.
It(this) works as a reference to current
object whose method or constructor is
being invoked. this keyword can be used
to refer any member of current object
from within an instance method or a
constructor.
Usage of java this keyword

Here is given the 6 usage of java this keyword.


◦ this keyword can be used to refer current class instance
variable.

◦ this() can be used to invoke current class constructor.

◦ this keyword can be used to invoke current class method


(implicitly)

◦ this can be passed as an argument in the method call.

◦ this can be passed as argument in the constructor call.

◦ this keyword can also be used to return the current class


instance.
two usage of this keyword.
1) The this keyword can be used to
refer current class instance variable.

 If there is ambiguity between the instance


variable and parameter, this keyword
resolves the problem of ambiguity.
Let's understand the problem if we don't use this keyword
by the example given below:
class Student10{
int id;
String name;

student(int id,String name){


id = id;
name = name;
}
void display(){System.out.println(id+" "+name);}

public static void main(String args[]){


Student10 s1 = new Student10(111,"Karan");
Student10 s2 = new Student10(321,"Aryan");
s1.display();
s2.display();
}
}
Output:
0 null
0 null
Solution of the above problem
by this keyword
//example of this keyword
class Student11{
int id;
String name;

Student11(int id,String name){


this.id = id;
this.name = name;
}
void display(){System.out.println(id+" "+name);}
public static void main(String args[]){
Student11 s1 = new Student11(111,"Karan");
Student11 s2 = new Student11(222,"Aryan");
s1.display();
s2.display();
}
}
Output:

111 Karan
222 Aryan
If local variables(formal arguments) and instance variables
are different, there is no need to use this keyword like in
the following program:
Program where this keyword is
not required
class Student12{
int id;
String name;

Student12(int i,String n){


id = i;
name = n;
}
void display(){System.out.println(id+" "+name);}
public static void main(String args[]){
Student12 e1 = new Student12(111,"karan");
Student12 e2 = new Student12(222,"Aryan");
e1.display();
e2.display();
}
}
Output:
111 Karan
222 Aryan
2) this() can be used to invoked
current class constructor.

The this() constructor call can be used to


invoke the current class constructor
(constructor chaining). This approach is
better if you have many constructors in
the class and want to reuse that
constructor.
//Program of this() constructor call (constructor chaining)

class Student13{
int id;
String name;
Student13(){System.out.println("default constructor is invoked");}

Student13(int id,String name){


this ();//it is used to invoked current class constructor.
this.id = id;
this.name = name;
}
void display(){System.out.println(id+" "+name);}

public static void main(String args[]){


Student13 e1 = new Student13(111,"karan");
Student13 e2 = new Student13(222,"Aryan");
e1.display();
e2.display();
}
}
Output:

default constructor is invoked


default constructor is invoked
111 Karan
222 Aryan
Where to use this() constructor call?

 The this() constructor call should be used


to reuse the constructor in the
constructor. It maintains the chain
between the constructors i.e. it is used
for constructor chaining. Let's see the
example given below that displays the
actual use of this keyword.
class Student14{
int id;
String name;
String city;

Student14(int id,String name){


this.id = id;
this.name = name;
}
Student14(int id,String name,String city){
this(id,name);//now no need to initialize id and name
this.city=city;
}
void display(){System.out.println(id+" "+name+" "+city);}

public static void main(String args[]){


Student14 e1 = new Student14(111,"karan");
Student14 e2 = new Student14(222,"Aryan","delhi");
e1.display();
e2.display();
}
}
Output:

111 Karan null


222 Aryan delhi

Rule: Call to this() must be the first


statement in constructor.
3)The this keyword can be used to invoke
current class method (implicitly).
You may invoke the method of the current
class by using the this keyword. If you don't
use the this keyword, compiler automatically
adds this keyword while invoking the method.

Let's see the example


class Student15{
int id;
String name;
Student15(){System.out.println("default constructor is invoked");}

Student15(int id,String name){


id = id;
name = name;
this ();//must be the first statement
}
void display(){System.out.println(id+" "+name);}

public static void main(String args[]){


Student15 e1 = new Student15(111,"karan");
Student15 e2 = new Student15(222,"Aryan");
e1.display();
e2.display();
}
}

Output:
Compile Time Error
class S{
void m(){
System.out.println("method is invoked");
}
void n(){
this.m();//no need because compiler does it for you.
}
void p(){
n();//complier will add this to invoke n() method as th
is.n()
}
public static void main(String args[]){
S s1 = new S();
s1.p();
}
}
Output: method is invoked
4) this keyword can be passed as an
argument in the method.
 The this keyword can also be passed as an
argument in the method. It is mainly used
in the event handling. Let's see the
example:
class S2{
void m(S2 obj){
System.out.println("method is invoked");
}
void p(){
m(this);
}
public static void main(String args[]){
S2 s1 = new S2();
s1.p();
}
}
Output: method is invoked
5) The this keyword can be passed as
argument in the constructor call.
 We can pass the this keyword in the
constructor also. It is useful if we have to
use one object in multiple classes. Let's see
the example:
class B{
A4 obj;
B(A4 obj){
this.obj=obj;
}
void display(){
System.out.println(obj.data);//using data member of A4 class
}}
class A4{
int data=10;
A4(){
B b=new B(this);
b.display();
}
public static void main(String args[]){
A4 a=new A4();
}
}

Output:10
6) The this keyword can be used to
return current class instance.
 We can return the this keyword as an
statement from the method. In such case,
return type of the method must be the
class type (non-primitive). Let's see the
example:
 Syntax of this that can be returned
as a statement

return_type method_name(){
return this;
}
Example of this keyword that you
return as a statement from the method
class A{
A getA(){
return this;
}
void msg(){System.out.println("Hello java");}
}
class Test1{
public static void main(String args[]){
new A().getA().msg();
}
}

Output: Hello java


Proving this keyword

 Let's prove that this keyword refers to


the current class instance variable. In this
program, we are printing the reference
variable and this, output of both variables
are same.
class A5{
void m(){
System.out.println(this);//prints same reference ID
}

public static void main(String args[]){


A5 obj=new A5();
System.out.println(obj);//prints the reference ID

obj.m();
}
}

Output:
A5@22b3ea59
A5@22b3ea59

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