How to Access the Outer Class from an Anonymous Inner Class in Java?

Is there a keyword to refer to the outer class from the inner class in Java?

public class OuterClass {
    public void otherMethod() { }
    public void doStuff(String str, InnerClass b) { }
    public void method() {
        doStuff("asd", new InnerClass() {
            public void innerMethod() {
                // Access outer class method
                OuterClass.this.otherMethod(); 
            }
        });
    }
}

In Java, when using anonymous inner classes, you can access the outer class's members using the syntax `OuterClassName.this`. This allows you to invoke methods and access variables defined in the outer class from within your inner class.

public class OuterClass {
    public void otherMethod() { System.out.println("Outer method called"); }

    public void doStuff(String str, InnerClass inner) { }

    public void method() {
        doStuff("example", new InnerClass() {
            public void innerMethod() {
                // Correctly refer to the outer class method
                OuterClass.this.otherMethod(); // Calls outer method
            }
        });
    }
}

Causes

• To access the outer class's instance methods or variables in an inner class, you need a way to specify which class's method or variable you are referring to.

Solutions

• Use the syntax `OuterClassName.this.methodName()` to call a method from the outer class.

Mistake: Forgetting to specify the outer class name, leading to a compilation error.

Solution: Always use `OuterClassName.this` to clarify which method or member you are trying to access.

Mistake: Using a non-static nested class when you intended to use a static context.

Solution: Ensure you understand the differences between static and non-static inner classes.