Java - when “this” is the only way to go?

Question

The following code runs for both var = putVar; & this.var = putVar;

I understand: \"this\" is used to identify that - \"put this value for just \'my\'

Answer 1

You can use this if you're using the same method argument identifier as a field, but it can be avoided if you simply do not use the same name.

Not using the same name is a more common practice to avoid confusion and shadowing. Hence, any reference to this in a setter can be replaced with a better naming standard: inParameter, for instance.

public void setX(int inX) {
    x = inX;
}

The other use of this would be to explicitly invoke a constructor. This is a form which can't be replaced with a simpler naming convention:

public class Foo {

    private String name;

    public Foo() {
        this("");
    }

    public Foo(String inName) {
        name = inName;
    }
}

There may also be a case in which you want to return the instance you're working with. This is also something that this allows you to do:

return this;