How is it possible for this code compile?

Can someone please explain how this C# code can possibly compile?

Code (csharp):

1.  
2. public class _Test
3. {
4.    private int x;
5.  
6.    public void Test()
7.    {
8.      _Test test = this;
9.  
10.      int y = test.x;
11.    }
12. }
13.  

x is private. So how can the line "test.x" compile?
The compiler does not complain about this.

Thanks.

 

Because it's a property of this class, of course. It works because you are using it inside the same class, that's why the compiler is not raising error even if it's private.

 

Yes, private means private to this class, not this method or function.

 

You can check the private members of other objects of the same class. This is often used for the implementation of Equals:

Code (csharp):

1. public class Foo {
2.  
3.     private int someInt;
4.  
5.     public override bool Equals(object obj) {
6.         if (obj == null || GetType() != obj.GetType()) {
7.             return false;
8.         }
9.         Foo other = (Foo) obj;
10.  
11.         return other.someInt == someInt;
12.     }
13. }

private members are also available in a static context - so if you've got a static method in Foo that takes a Foo argument, you can use that Foo's privates.

(snicker. Use it's privates)

 

Hmm, interesting. I did not know that you could do this in C#. It makes sense now.
I think I remember using other languages where this was not allowed, I can't recall the exact languages though because it was so long ago.

I like the scripting forum because usually within one minute of posting a question, it gets answered. LOL

 

Well, theoretically it works this way in any language. The exception is when you try to access a private variable from an inherited class, in which case you need to declare the variable as protected (that means it's accessible from inside any class that inherits from this).