Thread: the word "this"

I see the term, "this" used here and there and I don't understand what it means. I have searched around and has been said it means the current item. Well, I understand current item when using a cursor traversing through a linked list and how it stops at the current item. maybe that's it? Even if I'm hitting the nail on the head here, I don't understand how "this" is used. I have seen "this" used in two ways.

one way was something like this: this.xyz = xyz;

another way I am seeing it now in my book in the binary trees chapter is this:

{
right = right.removeRightmost( );
return this;
}

This refers to the current object you're method is working with. Note that this can only be referenced in a non-static method (otherwise, there is no object you're working with)

public static void main(String[] args)
{
     System.out.println(this.toString()); // Syntax error: We're inside a static method right now
}

It is often used to clear-up which field/variable you are referring to because by default, local variables will cover up instance variables and static fields.

public Class A
{
     int number;
     public A(int number)
     {
          this.number = 5; // The field number
          System.out.println("This number is " + this.number);
          System.out.println("The local number is " + number);
     }
 
 
     public static void main(String[] args)
     {
          new A(3);
     }
}