AP® Computer Science A glossary

this

Also called: this keyword, this reference

Course: AP® Computer Science A Shows up in: Unit 3: Class Creation

A special variable inside an instance method or constructor that holds a reference to the current object, the object whose method or constructor is running.

Appears in the course and exam description (CED): 3.9.A.13.9.A.23.9.A.3

Use this.name to reach an instance variable hidden by a parameter, and pass this to give another method a reference to the current object. Class (static) methods have no this.

public class Runner
{
    private String name;

    public Runner(String name)
    {
        this.name = name;   // instance variable = parameter
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Runner r = new Runner("Ivy");
        System.out.println(r.name);
    }
}

Output:

Ivy

Related terms

• Instance variable
• Local variable
• Object reference
• Class variable