What does the term global identifier refer to?

The term "global identifier" refers to a variable that is declared outside of any method definitions, making it accessible throughout the entire class and, in some cases, across different classes within the same package. This wide accessibility allows global identifiers to be used by any method or block of code within the class where they are declared, as well as potentially by classes that import or extend them.

In contrast, identifiers that are only declared within method definitions are local and can only be accessed within those specific methods. Similarly, identifiers defined within blocks of code, such as loops or conditionals, are also local to those blocks and cannot be accessed outside of them. Thus, the correct description of a global identifier is one that exists outside these local scopes, enabling broader data sharing and utility across various parts of the program.