Why are private fields on an enum type visible to the containing class?

Question

public class Parent {

    public enum ChildType {

        FIRST_CHILD(\"I am the first.\"),
        SECOND_CHILD(\"I am the second.\");

        private String myChild         


        

Answer 1

A top level class is like a village, everybody knows everybody, there are no secrets. Nested units within it don't change that fact.

class A
    private a;

    class B
        private b

        a = x; // ok

    new B().b = y; // ok

    class C extends A{}

    new C().a = z; // ok