Specifying more than one class modifier

Question

In section 8.1.1 Class Modifiers of the Java Language Specification 8, it states that:

ClassModifier: one of
Annotation public protected private abstract static final strictfp

But I managed to compile the following:

public strictfp A{}

That is, it states that one of the class modifiers should be chosen but I was able to choose more than one. Am I misinterpreting the specification here?

did you read three lines before what you pasted? "A class declaration may include class modifiers. ClassModifiers: ClassModifier ClassModifiers ClassModifier" — SMA
@msrd0 java 8 JLS doesnt have above line. Refer here So OP is reading SE 7's JLS and assuming its for 8. — SMA
@almasshaikh I know, I read that and thats why I think the OP means Java7 — msrd0

Sergey Kalinichenko Sergey Kalinichenko · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-23T11:30:01

The answer is in the rule above:

ClassModifiers:
    ClassModifier
    ClassModifiers ClassModifier <<== Here

ClassModifier: one of
    Annotation public protected private abstract static final strictfp

Essentially, the rule says that you can use one or more ClassModifiers in a ClassModifiers list. This recursive definition of an iterative concept of "one or more" is common for BNF-style syntax descriptions (as opposed to EBNF, that provide a special syntax for repetitions).

Specifying more than one class modifier

2 Answers