changing final variables through reflection, why difference between static and non-static final variable

Question

Please refer to the below code. When I run the code, I am able to change the value of a final non-static variable. But if I try to change the value of a final static variable then it throws java.lang.IllegalAccessException.

My question is why doesn't it throw an exception in case of non-static final variable also or vice versa. Why the difference?

import java.lang.reflect.Field;
import java.util.Random;

public class FinalReflection {

    final static int stmark =  computeRandom();
    final int inmark = computeRandom();

    public static void main(String[] args) throws SecurityException, NoSuchFieldException, IllegalArgumentException, IllegalAccessException {
        FinalReflection obj = new FinalReflection();
        System.out.println(FinalReflection.stmark);
        System.out.println(obj.inmark);
        Field staticFinalField  = FinalReflection.class.getDeclaredField("stmark");
        Field instanceFinalField  = FinalReflection.class.getDeclaredField("inmark");
        staticFinalField.setAccessible(true);
        instanceFinalField.setAccessible(true);

        instanceFinalField.set(obj, 100);
        System.out.println(obj.inmark);

        staticFinalField.set(FinalReflection.class, 101);
        System.out.println(FinalReflection.stmark);

    }

    private static int computeRandom() {
        return new Random().nextInt(5);
    }
}

Answer 1

FinalReflectionobj = new FinalReflection();
System.out.println(FinalReflection.stmark);
System.out.println(obj.inmark);
Field staticFinalField  = FinalReflection.class.getDeclaredField("stmark");
Field instanceFinalField  = FinalReflection.class.getDeclaredField("inmark");
staticFinalField.setAccessible(true);
instanceFinalField.setAccessible(true);

//EXTRA CODE
//Modify the final using reflection
Field modifiersField = Field.class.getDeclaredField("modifiers");
modifiersField.setAccessible(true);
modifiersField.setInt(staticFinalField, staticFinalField.getModifiers() & ~Modifier.FINAL);


instanceFinalField.set(obj, 100);
System.out.println(obj.inmark);
staticFinalField.set(FinalReflection.class, 101);
System.out.println(FinalReflection.stmark);

This solution does not come without some downsides, it may not work in all cases:

In case a final field is initialized to a compile-time constant in the field declaration, changes to the final field may not be visible, since uses of that final field are replaced at compile time with the compile-time constant.

Another problem is that the specification allows aggressive optimization of final fields. Within a thread, it is permissible to reorder reads of a final field with those modifications of a final field that do not take place in the constructor. More on this is also explained in this similar question.

Answer 2

The javadoc is clear:

If the underlying field is final, the method throws an IllegalAccessException unless setAccessible(true) has succeeded for this Field object and the field is non-static.

From a JLS perspective, the exact behaviour of how reflection should work is not specified, but in JLS 17.5.4:

Normally, a field that is final and static may not be modified.

One workaround is to remove the final modifier through reflection.

Answer 3

For final, it can be assigned different values at runtime when initialized.

Class Test{    
public final int a;
}

Test t1  = new Test();
t1.a = 10;
Test t2  = new Test();
t1.a = 20;

Thus each instance has different value of field a.

For static final, all instances share the same value, and can't be altered after first initialized.

Class TestStatic{
   public static final int a;
}

Test t1  = new Test();
t1.a = 10;
Test t2  = new Test();
t1.a = 20;   // ERROR, CAN'T BE ALTERED AFTER THE FIRST INITIALIZATION.