what is the difference between pass by reference and call by reference in java ?
3 Answers
Java does not pass any variables by reference.
It is tempting to think of objects being passed by reference in Java -- but harmful. Variables of object type are references. When passed, they are passed by value.
In other languages, pass-by-reference and call-by-reference are the same thing.
Edit: More detail is provided in the existing stackoverflow question "Is Java pass by reference?" (Spoiler: No.)
Important concept - Java has no concept of "pass by reference". Everything in Java is passed by value. When you pass an object reference to a parameter in a method call, what you are really doing it is passing a value that points to the reference of your object.
The following URLs explain this in greater detail: and
Apparently (as noted in comments to your question) the terms "pass by reference" and "call by reference" mean the same thing.
You asked but, "pass by reference" and "call by reference" are same thing.
If you are looking for difference between pass by reference and pass by value check answers to
Pass by reference or pass by value?
But remember, Java passes parameter by value.
