Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Objects Meet Objects Final

Brendan Passey
Brendan Passey
999 Points
Posted by Brendan Passey
Brendan Passey
999 Points

How do you know which characterName this.characterName refers to????

I had assumed it would always refer to the characterName we'd just typed in the brackets at 2.06 he says it refers to the characterName in line 2. Does it always refer to the first one declared or something?

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,184 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,184 Points

Since the function has a parameter named "characterName", that will refer to the parameter when used by itself. But when you reference "this.characterName", it refers to the class variable defined on line 2.

Putting a "this." prefix on a name refers to something in the class rather than a local variable of parameter of the method.