Question

While studying java with several books, none of them seem to make it clear when to use which term.
Right now I understand it as follows:

Variables are defined within a method, while fields are part of a class.

Answer 1

Edit:

You have the right idea.

After going back to the Java Documentation, I’ll use their terminology:

• Member variables in a class—these are called fields.
• Variables in a method or block of code—these are called local variables.
• Variables in method declarations—these are called parameters.

Variables refer to fields, local variables, and parameters.