Which access modifier allows access in the same package and subclasses?

Which access modifier allows access in the same package and subclasses?

• A. protected
• B. private
• C. public
• D. default

Answer: (A)

Protected access lets a member be visible inside its own package and also to any subclass, even if that subclass is in a different package. This combination makes it the right choice when you want derived classes to reuse or extend behavior while still keeping access restricted from the general public API. Private would limit access to the defining class only, public would expose it everywhere, and default (no modifier) allows access only within the same package (not to subclasses in other packages), which doesn't meet the requirement of subclass access across packages.

Protected access lets a member be visible inside its own package and also to any subclass, even if that subclass is in a different package. This combination makes it the right choice when you want derived classes to reuse or extend behavior while still keeping access restricted from the general public API. Private would limit access to the defining class only, public would expose it everywhere, and default (no modifier) allows access only within the same package (not to subclasses in other packages), which doesn't meet the requirement of subclass access across packages.