Scope of a Formal Parameter

The scope of a formal parameter is the section of code that can "see" the parameter. The scope of a formal parameter is the body of its method. For example, the scope of amount is the body of its method:

class CheckingAccount
{
  . . . .
  private int balance;

  . . . .
  public void processDeposit( int amount )
  { // scope of amount starts here
  
    balance = balance + amount ;   
       
    // scope of amount ends here
  }

  // modified toString() method
  public String toString()
  {
    System.out.println( balance + "/t" + amount );
  }


}

The toString() method cannot "see" amount because it is outside the scope of amount. The compiler will not compile this modified program.