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Static member problem

 
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import java.util.*;
public class testing1 {

class Inner{
String s;
Inner(String s){
this.s = s;
}
public String toString(){
return s;
}
}
public static void main(String... args)
{
List<Inner>l = new ArrayList<Inner>();
l.add(new Inner("I"));
l.add(new Inner("AM"));
for(Inner p:l){
System.out.println(p);
}
}

}

When I compile the above program,
It shows compilation error
testing1.java:16: non-static variable this cannot be referenced from a static context
l.add(new Inner("I"));
^
testing1.java:17: non-static variable this cannot be referenced from a static context
l.add(new Inner("AM"));

My problem is what does "this" refer to in the above two lines ?

But when I modify my program as ->

import java.util.*;
public class testing1 {
int x;
class Inner{
String s;
Inner(String s){
this.s = s;
}
public String toString(){
return s;
}
}
public static void main(String... args)
{
List<Inner>l = new ArrayList<Inner>();
l.add(new testing1().new Inner("I"));
l.add(new testing1().new Inner("AM"));
for(Inner p:l){

}
}

}

It compiles . Why?
Can anyone help me.
 
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"this" here refers to the reference of the class testing1.
This is happening because you are trying to create an instance of the inner class directly which is NOT allowed.
 
Ramesh Sahu
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Yes , I got that.
But why does the following code compile ,

import java.util.*;
class testing1 {

class Inner{
String s;
Inner(String s){
this.s = s;
}
public String toString(){
return s;
}
}
public static void main(String... args)
{

}



void meth(){
List<Inner>l = new ArrayList<Inner>();
l.add(new Inner("I"));
l.add(new Inner("AM"));
for(Inner p:l){
System.out.println(p);
}
}
}

even though I have tried to create the inner class directly?
I know that non static references cannot be referenced from a static context. I am bit confused when it comes to an inner class.
Please help me out.
 
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Originally posted by Ramesh Sahu:
Yes , I got that.
But why does the following code compile ,

import java.util.*;
class testing1 {

class Inner{
String s;
Inner(String s){
this.s = s;
}
public String toString(){
return s;
}
}
public static void main(String... args)
{

}



void meth(){
List<Inner>l = new ArrayList<Inner>();
l.add(new Inner("I"));
l.add(new Inner("AM"));
for(Inner p:l){
System.out.println(p);
}
}
}

even though I have tried to create the inner class directly?
I know that non static references cannot be referenced from a static context. I am bit confused when it comes to an inner class.
Please help me out.



It compiles because you are creating Inner's by an instance method of testing1, so you already have a reference of testing1, this.
 
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Ramesh, what Raphael explained is correct ... you will access the method meth() with an instance of the testing1 i.e
testing1 te = new testing1();
te.meth();
so inside meth() you will always have this reference. But thats not the case for static method! & the inner class(not a toplevel class) always requires the outer class refernce!
 
Ramesh Sahu
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Thanks a lot
I got that
 
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