"The constructor is not visible" error

Question

I have two classes :

First, with one constructor :

public class First {

    First (ObjectA myObjectA) {
        //do stuff
    }
}

And Second, with two constructors :

public class Second {

    Second (ObjectB myObjectB) {
        //do something...
    }

    Second (ObjectC myObjectC) {
        //do something else...
    }
}

When I want to instantiate my First class, Eclipse generates me an error ("The constructor is not visible"), I have to add public to the constructor of First :

First first = new First(myObject); //Error : "The constructor is not visble"

But when I instantiate my Second class, I have no error :

Second second = new Second(myObjectC); //No error...

Notes: I instantiate First in an other class, but I instantiate Second in First. First and Second are in the same package.

Can you explain me why ?

Answer 1

No access modifier for your constructor makes it package private. Assuming that First and Second are in the same package, you can call Second's constructors from first. Another class from another package, however, cannot access any of the constructors.

Answer 2

Your class must be in 2 packages. If you don't mention any explicit access modifier Java will consider them as default access modifier. Then you can only access them through the same package only.

Access Modifiers (From least access to highest access)

1. private - Only within same class
2. default - Only within same package
3. protected - same package + children classes in other packages
4. public - From anywhere