The Java Language Specification, Third Edition

6.5.2 Reclassification of Contextually Ambiguous Names NAMES
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◆ Otherwise, if a field of that name is declared in the compilation unit (§7.3)
containing the Identifier by a single-static-import declaration (§7.5.3), or by
a static-import-on-demand declaration (§7.5.4) then the AmbiguousName is
reclassified as an ExpressionName.
◆ Otherwise, if the Identifier appears within the scope (§6.3) of a top level
class (§8) or interface type declaration (§9), a local class declaration (§14.3)
or member type declaration (§8.5, §9.5) with that name, then the AmbiguousName
is reclassified as a TypeName.
◆ Otherwise, if a type of that name is declared in the compilation unit (§7.3)
containing the Identifier, either by a single-type-import declaration (§7.5.1),
or by a type-import-on-demand declaration (§7.5.2), or by a single-staticimport
declaration (§7.5.3), or by a static-import-on-demand declaration
(§7.5.4), then the AmbiguousName is reclassified as a TypeName.
◆ Otherwise, the AmbiguousName is reclassified as a PackageName. A later
step determines whether or not a package of that name actually exists.
• If the AmbiguousName is a qualified name, consisting of a name, a “.”, and an
Identifier, then the name to the left of the “.” is first reclassified, for it is itself
an AmbiguousName. There is then a choice:
◆ If the name to the left of the “.” is reclassified as a PackageName, then if
there is a package whose name is the name to the left of the “.” and that
package contains a declaration of a type whose name is the same as the
Identifier, then this AmbiguousName is reclassified as a TypeName. Otherwise,
this AmbiguousName is reclassified as a PackageName. A later step
determines whether or not a package of that name actually exists.
◆ If the name to the left of the “.” is reclassified as a TypeName, then if the
Identifier is the name of a method or field of the type denoted by TypeName,
this AmbiguousName is reclassified as an ExpressionName. Otherwise, if
the Identifier is the name of a member type of the type denoted by Type-
Name, this AmbiguousName is reclassified as a TypeName. Otherwise, a
compile-time error results.
DRAFT
◆ If the name to the left of the “.” is reclassified as an ExpressionName, then
let T be the type of the expression denoted by ExpressionName. If the Identifier
is the name of a method or field of the type denoted by T, this AmbiguousName
is reclassified as an ExpressionName. Otherwise, if the Identifier
is the name of a member type (§8.5, §9.5) of the type denoted by T, then this
AmbiguousName is reclassified as a TypeName. Otherwise, a compile-time
error results.