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Class Attributes in Java

Beginner ⏱ 7 min read Updated: Jun 2026

Class attributes in Java are variables that belong to a class and represent the properties or characteristics of objects created from that class.

In Java, class attributes are also known as fields or member variables. They store the data of an object and define its state.

For example, a Student class can have attributes like name, age, and rollNumber that describe the properties of a student object.

What are Class Attributes in Java?

A class attribute is a variable declared inside a class but outside any method, constructor, or block.

Each object created from a class can have its own values for these attributes. These attributes define what information an object stores.

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Key Point: Class attributes describe the state or properties of an object.

Syntax of Class Attributes in Java

Syntax
class  ClassName {
    dataType attributeName;
}

Example of Class Attributes in Java

Example
class Student {
    String name;
    int age;
}
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Student s1 = new Student();
        s1.name = "John";
      s1.age = 20;
        System.out.println(s1.name);
        System.out.println(s1.age);
    }
}
Output
John
20

Types of Class Attributes in Java

Java class attributes are mainly divided into different types based on their behavior and declaration.

Instance Attributes

Variables that belong to individual objects. Every object has its own copy of instance attributes.

Static Attributes

Variables declared with the static keyword. They are shared among all objects of a class.

Final Attributes

Variables declared with final keyword whose values cannot be changed.

Instance Attributes in Java

Instance attributes are non-static variables that belong to an object. Every object gets a separate copy of these attributes.

Example
class Car {
    String color;
}
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Car car1 = new Car(); 
         Car car2 = new Car();
         car1.color = "Red";
        car2.color = "Black";
        System.out.println(car1.color);
        System.out.println(car2.color);
    }
    }
Output
Red
Black

Static Attributes in Java

A static attribute belongs to the class instead of individual objects. Only one copy of a static attribute is created and shared by all objects.

Example
class Student {
    static String school = "ABC School";
}
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println(Student.school);
    }
}
Output
ABC School

Accessing Class Attributes in Java

Class attributes can be accessed using the object name or class name depending on whether they are instance or static attributes.

  • Instance attributes are accessed using object references.
  • Static attributes are accessed using the class name.
  • Access modifiers control the visibility of attributes.

Access Modifiers for Class Attributes

public

Accessible from anywhere in the program.

private

Accessible only inside the same class.

protected

Accessible within the same package and subclasses.

Advantages of Class Attributes in Java

Store Data

Used to store object information and properties.

Code Organization

Helps organize related data inside classes.

Object Modeling

Helps represent real-world entities in programs.