 This is called an access level modifier.Other access level modifiers include the keywords codice_13(a method that can only be accessed in the same class) and codice_14(which allows code from the same package to access).If a piece of code attempts to access private methods or protected methods, the JVM will throw a codice_15

The keyword codice_16 in front of a method indicates a static method, which is associated only with the class and not with any specific instance of that class.