java this keyword

Question

I have read that in Java you don't have to explicitly bind the this keyword to object, it is done by interpreter. It is opposite to Javascript where you always have to know the value of this. But where is this in Java is pointing - to class or object ? Or does it vary ? This question is a part of my attempt to understand basic OO concepts and design patterns so I can apply them to Javascript. Thank you.

Answer 1

The Java language specification states:

When used as a primary expression, the keyword this denotes a value that is a reference to the object for which the instance method was invoked (§15.12), or to the object being constructed.

I.e. it always points to an object, not a class.

Answer 2

In Java, this always refers to an object and never to a class.

Answer 3

this refers to current object.

Within an instance method or a constructor, this is a reference to the current object — the object whose method or constructor is being called. You can refer to any member of the current object from within an instance method or a constructor by using this.

Answer 4

in java this is refer Current object

like

public class Employee{

String name,adress;

Employee(){

 this.name="employee";
 this.address="address";

}

}

Answer 5

In java 'this' is a keyword, basically used to refer to the current object. In the following example the setter methods are using 'this' to set the values of name and age of current object.

public class Person {

  String name;
  int age;

  public String getName() {
    return name;
  }

  public void setName(String name) {
    this.name = name;
  }

  public int getAge() {
    return age;
  }

  public void setAge(int age) {
    this.age = age;
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Person p = new Person();
    p.setName("Rishi");
    p.setAge(23);
    System.out.println(p.getName() + " is " + p.getAge() + " years old");
  }
}

Answer 6

From the official documentation (found here):

Within an instance method or a constructor, this is a reference to the current object — the object whose method or constructor is being called. You can refer to any member of the current object from within an instance method or a constructor by using this.

What this means is that inside the code of any class, when you write this, you specify the fact that you are referring to the current object.

As a side note, you cannot use this with static fields or methods because they do not belong to any specific object (instance of the class).