What is an instance variable in Java?

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Instance variable is the variable declared inside a class, but outside a method: something like:

class IronMan {

    /** These are all instance variables **/
    public String realName;
    public String[] superPowers;
    public int age;

    /** Getters and setters here **/
}

Now this IronMan Class can be instantiated in another class to use these variables. Something like:

class Avengers {

    public static void main(String[] a) {
        IronMan ironman = new IronMan();
        ironman.realName = "Tony Stark";
        // or
        ironman.setAge(30);
    }

}

This is how we use the instance variables. Shameless plug: This example was pulled from this free e-book here here.

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