The Java Language Specification, Third Edition

EXPRESSIONS Determining Enclosing Instances 15.9.2
direct subclass of the class named by T is declared. It is a compile-time error if
the class denoted by T is a final class. If T denotes an interface then an anonymous
direct subclass of Object that implements the interface named by T is
declared. In either case, the body of the subclass is the ClassBody given in the
class instance creation expression. The class being instantiated is the anonymous
subclass.
• Otherwise, the class instance creation expression is a qualified class instance
creation expression. Let T be the name of the Identifier after the new token. It
is a compile-time error if T is not the simple name (§6.2) of an accessible
(§6.6) non-final inner class (§8.1.3) that is a member of the compile-time
type of the Primary. It is also a compile-time error if T is ambiguous (§8.5) or
if T denotes an enum type. An anonymous direct subclass of the class named
by T is declared. The body of the subclass is the ClassBody given in the class
instance creation expression. The class being instantiated is the anonymous
subclass.
If a class instance creation expression does not declare an anonymous class,
then:
• If the class instance creation expression is an unqualified class instance creation
expression, then the ClassOrInterfaceType must denote a class that is
accessible (§6.6) and is not an enum type and not abstract, or a compiletime
error occurs. In this case, the class being instantiated is the class denoted
by ClassOrInterfaceType.
• Otherwise, the class instance creation expression is a qualified class instance
creation expression. It is a compile-time error if Identifier is not the simple
name (§6.2) of an accessible (§6.6) non-abstract inner class (§8.1.3) T that
is a member of the compile-time type of the Primary. It is also a compile-time
error if Identifier is ambiguous (§8.5), or if Identifier denotes an enum type
(§8.9). The class being instantiated is the class denoted by Identifier.
The type of the class instance creation expression is the class type being
instantiated.
DRAFT
15.9.2 Determining Enclosing Instances
Let C be the class being instantiated, and let i the instance being created. If C is an
inner class then i may have an immediately enclosing instance. The immediately
enclosing instance of i (§8.1.3) is determined as follows:
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