java - How private writeObject method of Serializable object called by object of ObjectOutputStream

Question

When i run this demo it's call TestBean's writeObject method which is private

How is it possible ?

Here is the Code:

import java.io.FileOutputStream;

public class Test {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        try {
            TestBean testBean = test.new TestBean();

            testBean.setSize(23);
            testBean.setWidth(167);

            FileOutputStream fos =
                new FileOutputStream(new File("d:\serial.txt"));
            ObjectOutputStream oos = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);
            oos.writeObject(testBean);

            oos.close();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    class TestBean implements Serializable {

        private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

        private int size;
        private int width;

        public int getSize() {
            return size;
        }

        public void setSize(int size) {
            this.size = size;
        }

        public int getWidth() {
            return width;
        }

        public void setWidth(int width) {
            this.width = width;
        }

        private void writeObject(ObjectOutputStream out) throws IOException {
            System.out.println("TestBean writeObject");
            out.defaultWriteObject();
        }

        private void readObject(ObjectInputStream input) throws IOException,
                                                                ClassNotFoundException {
            System.out.println("TestBean readObject ===================> ");
            input.defaultReadObject();
        }
    }
}

Answer 1

If your serializable object has any writeObject method, it will be called otherwise the defaultWriteObject method will be called.

The private method calling is possible using the reflection. If you see the source code of ObjectOutputStream Class in that method writeSerialData, the code below answers your question.

if (slotDesc.hasWriteObjectMethod()) {
 // through reflection it will call the Serializable objects writeObject method
} else {
// the below is the same method called by defaultWriteObject method also.
writeSerialData(obj, desc);
}