What is the name of the :: operator in Java 8

Question

I can\'t find the name of the :: operator added in Java 8 in either of the following resources:

• Proposed Final Draft Specification: The Java Langu

Answer 1

It should probably be called a "colon colon separator":

• Brian Goetz* calls it "colon colon" and since he was the specification lead for the lambda JSR I suppose we can consider him as an authoritative source.
• The specification #3.11 classifies :: as a separator.

_{*source: the road to lambda @ Javaone 2013 around 04:00.}