Synthetic Class in Java

Question

What is a synthetic class in Java? Why should it be used? How can I use it?

Answer 1

synthetic classes / methods / fields:

These things are important for the VM. Have a look at following code snippet:

class MyOuter {

  private MyInner inner;

  void createInner() {
    // The Compiler has to create a synthetic method
    // to construct a new MyInner because the constructor
    // is private.
    // --> synthetic "constructor" method
    inner = new MyInner();

    // The Compiler has to create a synthetic method
    // to doSomething on MyInner object because this
    // method is private.
    // --> synthetic "doSomething" method
    inner.doSomething();
  }

  private class MyInner {
    // the inner class holds a syntetic ref_pointer to
    // the outer "parent" class
    // --> synthetic field
    private MyInner() {
    }
    private void doSomething() {
    }
  }
}