Instantiated classes always by reference

This is in response to this task: https://codegym.cc/tasks/com.codegym.task.task04.task0407 I'm coming from a different language so trying to make sure I thoroughly understand this, this is the only thing that's given me any pause at all so far. If I instantiate 2 objects, from the same class, they always reference and modify the same one by default? So, I could have something like:

Address address1 = new Address();
address1.street = "1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW";

Address address2 = new Address();
address2.street = "1313 Disneyland Dr";

And address2 will override the street property in the Address class set by address1? Just trying to make sure I'm understanding this correctly, this seems completely illogical.

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Han

Level 24 , Netherlands

3 October 2019, 12:45

Hi! It depends, if your Address class looks like this:

public class Address {
    public static String street;
}

Then the address field is static and so shared between the two instances of Address (it will be overridden). If your Address class looks like this:

public class Address {
    public String street;
}

The address field is not static and also not shared between instances and will not be overridden.

Jamie

Level 5 , Austin, United States

3 October 2019, 14:24

That makes sense, thanks for the clarification. I think I overlooked that it was "static" and couldn't figure out why it was basically acting like a singleton.