diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpChunkAggregator.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpChunkAggregator.java
index f32963f308..b01f778fa0 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpChunkAggregator.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpChunkAggregator.java
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public class HttpChunkAggregator extends MessageToMessageDecoder<HttpObject, Htt
     }
 
     @Override
-    public HttpMessage decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, HttpObject msg) throws Exception {
+    protected HttpMessage decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, HttpObject msg) throws Exception {
         HttpMessage currentMessage = this.currentMessage;
 
         if (msg instanceof HttpMessage) {
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpClientCodec.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpClientCodec.java
index 93c9a7ebf7..050fe6eb9b 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpClientCodec.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpClientCodec.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class HttpClientCodec extends CombinedChannelHandler {
 
     private final class Encoder extends HttpRequestEncoder {
         @Override
-        public void encode(
+        protected void encode(
                 ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
             if (msg instanceof HttpRequest && !done) {
                 queue.offer(((HttpRequest) msg).getMethod());
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ public class HttpClientCodec extends CombinedChannelHandler {
         }
 
         @Override
-        public Object decode(
+        protected Object decode(
                 ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
             if (done) {
                 return buffer.readBytes(actualReadableBytes());
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentDecoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentDecoder.java
index e7a2ec8837..247b9554ba 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentDecoder.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ public abstract class HttpContentDecoder extends MessageToMessageDecoder<Object,
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg) throws Exception {
         if (msg instanceof HttpResponse && ((HttpResponse) msg).getStatus().getCode() == 100) {
             // 100-continue response must be passed through.
             return msg;
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java
index 324b669450..04a00ba11e 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public abstract class HttpContentEncoder extends MessageToMessageCodec<HttpMessa
     }
 
     @Override
-    public HttpMessage decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, HttpMessage msg)
+    protected HttpMessage decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, HttpMessage msg)
             throws Exception {
         String acceptedEncoding = msg.getHeader(HttpHeaders.Names.ACCEPT_ENCODING);
         if (acceptedEncoding == null) {
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageDecoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageDecoder.java
index a060185fff..1a6878cab6 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageDecoder.java
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ public abstract class HttpMessageDecoder extends ReplayingDecoder<Object, HttpMe
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
         switch (state()) {
         case SKIP_CONTROL_CHARS: {
             try {
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageEncoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageEncoder.java
index 7410998356..09281bdb10 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageEncoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpMessageEncoder.java
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public abstract class HttpMessageEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         if (msg instanceof HttpMessage) {
             HttpMessage m = (HttpMessage) msg;
             HttpTransferEncoding te = m.getTransferEncoding();
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageDecoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageDecoder.java
index fbd5db0613..40f1f149a4 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageDecoder.java
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public abstract class RtspMessageDecoder extends HttpMessageDecoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
         Object o = super.decode(ctx, buffer);
         if (o != null && aggregator.writeInbound(o)) {
             return aggregator.readInbound();
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageEncoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageEncoder.java
index 88a7e7a7a4..2e9d943c61 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageEncoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/rtsp/RtspMessageEncoder.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public abstract class RtspMessageEncoder extends HttpMessageEncoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg,
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg,
             ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         // Ignore unrelated message types such as HttpChunk.
         if (!(msg instanceof HttpMessage)) {
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameDecoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameDecoder.java
index 264e8da625..08d15c04f9 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameDecoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameDecoder.java
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public class SpdyFrameDecoder extends ByteToMessageDecoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
         switch(state) {
         case READ_COMMON_HEADER:
             state = readCommonHeader(buffer);
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameEncoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameEncoder.java
index cc3842e9ea..61d72b4ee5 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameEncoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyFrameEncoder.java
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public class SpdyFrameEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         if (msg instanceof SpdyDataFrame) {
 
             SpdyDataFrame spdyDataFrame = (SpdyDataFrame) msg;
diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyHttpResponseStreamIdHandler.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyHttpResponseStreamIdHandler.java
index 883f8a91d8..1879daf5dd 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyHttpResponseStreamIdHandler.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/spdy/SpdyHttpResponseStreamIdHandler.java
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public class SpdyHttpResponseStreamIdHandler extends
     }
 
     @Override
-    public HttpMessage encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, HttpMessage msg) throws Exception {
+    protected HttpMessage encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, HttpMessage msg) throws Exception {
         Integer id = ids.poll();
         if (id != null && id.intValue() != NO_ID && !msg.containsHeader(SpdyHttpHeaders.Names.STREAM_ID)) {
             SpdyHttpHeaders.setStreamId(msg, id);
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public class SpdyHttpResponseStreamIdHandler extends
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg) throws Exception {
         if (msg instanceof HttpMessage) {
             boolean contains = ((HttpMessage) msg).containsHeader(SpdyHttpHeaders.Names.STREAM_ID);
             if (!contains) {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteCodec.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteCodec.java
index 0453ca3b3f..646a19b249 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteCodec.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteCodec.java
@@ -109,14 +109,14 @@ public abstract class ByteToByteCodec
     /**
      * @see {@link ByteToByteEncoder#encode(ChannelHandlerContext, ByteBuf, ByteBuf)}
      */
-    public abstract void encode(
+    protected abstract void encode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
 
     /**
      * @see {@link ByteToByteDecoder#decode(ChannelHandlerContext, ByteBuf, ByteBuf)}
      */
-    public abstract void decode(
+    protected abstract void decode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteDecoder.java
index 38a12a7d45..b51e2ba29c 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteDecoder.java
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public abstract class ByteToByteDecoder extends ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter
      * @param out           the {@link ByteBuf} to which the decoded data will be written
      * @throws Exception    is thrown if an error accour
      */
-    public abstract void decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract void decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
 
     /**
      * Is called one last time when the {@link ChannelHandlerContext} goes in-active. Which means the
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ public abstract class ByteToByteDecoder extends ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter
      * By default this will just call {@link #decode(ChannelHandlerContext, ByteBuf, ByteBuf)} but sub-classes may
      * override this for some special cleanup operation.
      */
-    public void decodeLast(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void decodeLast(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         decode(ctx, in, out);
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteEncoder.java
index a98f547e54..48e569bc28 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToByteEncoder.java
@@ -79,5 +79,5 @@ public abstract class ByteToByteEncoder extends ChannelOutboundByteHandlerAdapte
      * @param out           the {@link ByteBuf} to which the decoded data will be written
      * @throws Exception    is thrown if an error accour
      */
-    public abstract void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageCodec.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageCodec.java
index a7420b6502..8252882a40 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageCodec.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageCodec.java
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ public abstract class ByteToMessageCodec<INBOUND_OUT, OUTBOUND_IN>
         encoder.freeOutboundBuffer(ctx, buf);
     }
 
-    public abstract void encode(
+    protected abstract void encode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             OUTBOUND_IN msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
 
-    public abstract INBOUND_OUT decode(
+    protected abstract INBOUND_OUT decode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageDecoder.java
index fdd2b70439..8ab106efe9 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/ByteToMessageDecoder.java
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ public abstract class ByteToMessageDecoder<O>
      *                      there was not enough data left in the {@link ByteBuf} to decode.
      * @throws Exception    is thrown if an error accour
      */
-    public abstract O decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract O decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception;
 
     /**
      * Is called one last time when the {@link ChannelHandlerContext} goes in-active. Which means the
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ public abstract class ByteToMessageDecoder<O>
      * By default this will just call {@link #decode(ChannelHandlerContext, ByteBuf)} but sub-classes may
      * override this for some special cleanup operation.
      */
-    public O decodeLast(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
+    protected O decodeLast(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
         return decode(ctx, in);
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/DelimiterBasedFrameDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/DelimiterBasedFrameDecoder.java
index 0e32e6d412..374d85d7af 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/DelimiterBasedFrameDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/DelimiterBasedFrameDecoder.java
@@ -209,8 +209,9 @@ public class DelimiterBasedFrameDecoder extends ByteToMessageDecoder<Object> {
     private boolean isSubclass() {
         return getClass() != DelimiterBasedFrameDecoder.class;
     }
+
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
         if (lineBasedDecoder != null) {
             return lineBasedDecoder.decode(ctx, buffer);
         }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/FixedLengthFrameDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/FixedLengthFrameDecoder.java
index 815377f165..35af3d0f2b 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/FixedLengthFrameDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/FixedLengthFrameDecoder.java
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public class FixedLengthFrameDecoder extends ByteToMessageDecoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
         if (in.readableBytes() < frameLength) {
             return null;
         } else {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder.java
index 90cc0cdf52..560701c9ff 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder.java
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ public class LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder extends ByteToMessageDecoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
         if (discardingTooLongFrame) {
             long bytesToDiscard = this.bytesToDiscard;
             int localBytesToDiscard = (int) Math.min(bytesToDiscard, in.readableBytes());
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldPrepender.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldPrepender.java
index a7c5d050b3..17165aa50e 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldPrepender.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LengthFieldPrepender.java
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ public class LengthFieldPrepender extends MessageToByteEncoder<ByteBuf> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(
+    protected void encode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             ByteBuf msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
 
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LineBasedFrameDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LineBasedFrameDecoder.java
index 7fbee8f9b1..143f7f64e0 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LineBasedFrameDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/LineBasedFrameDecoder.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class LineBasedFrameDecoder extends ByteToMessageDecoder<ByteBuf> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ByteBuf decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected ByteBuf decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
 
         final int eol = findEndOfLine(buffer);
         if (eol != -1) {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToByteEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToByteEncoder.java
index 5a5a8257a1..da71dadf96 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToByteEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToByteEncoder.java
@@ -104,5 +104,5 @@ public abstract class MessageToByteEncoder<I> extends ChannelOutboundMessageHand
      * @param out           the {@link ByteBuf} into which the encoded message will be written
      * @throws Exception    is thrown if an error accour
      */
-    public abstract void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageCodec.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageCodec.java
index 409397b0d4..5d2a5c791b 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageCodec.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageCodec.java
@@ -142,6 +142,6 @@ public abstract class MessageToMessageCodec<INBOUND_IN, INBOUND_OUT, OUTBOUND_IN
         return ChannelHandlerUtil.acceptMessage(acceptedOutboundMsgTypes, msg);
     }
 
-    public abstract OUTBOUND_OUT encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, OUTBOUND_IN msg) throws Exception;
-    public abstract INBOUND_OUT decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, INBOUND_IN msg) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract OUTBOUND_OUT encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, OUTBOUND_IN msg) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract INBOUND_OUT decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, INBOUND_IN msg) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageDecoder.java
index 72b6f2c031..94b3823e05 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageDecoder.java
@@ -121,5 +121,5 @@ public abstract class MessageToMessageDecoder<I, O>
      *                      needs to do some kind of aggragation
      * @throws Exception    is thrown if an error accour
      */
-    public abstract O decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract O decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageEncoder.java
index c1aaf6dafa..22a06f4fd7 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/MessageToMessageEncoder.java
@@ -111,5 +111,5 @@ public abstract class MessageToMessageEncoder<I, O> extends ChannelOutboundMessa
      *                      needs to do some kind of aggragation
      * @throws Exception    is thrown if an error accour
      */
-    public abstract O encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract O encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Decoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Decoder.java
index e820483a4d..9f17f5ffbf 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Decoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Decoder.java
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public class Base64Decoder extends MessageToMessageDecoder<ByteBuf, ByteBuf> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ByteBuf decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
+    protected ByteBuf decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
         return Base64.decode(msg, msg.readerIndex(), msg.readableBytes(), dialect);
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Encoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Encoder.java
index 8d95fc9fba..72cdae1030 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Encoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/base64/Base64Encoder.java
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public class Base64Encoder extends MessageToMessageEncoder<ByteBuf, ByteBuf> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
+    protected ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
         return Base64.encode(msg, msg.readerIndex(), msg.readableBytes(), breakLines, dialect);
     }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayDecoder.java
index 444e0df434..aea2defc48 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayDecoder.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public class ByteArrayDecoder extends MessageToMessageDecoder<ByteBuf, byte[]> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public byte[] decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
+    protected byte[] decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
         byte[] array;
         if (msg.hasArray()) {
             if (msg.arrayOffset() == 0 && msg.readableBytes() == msg.capacity()) {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayEncoder.java
index f36b9c3a27..113cde860d 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/bytes/ByteArrayEncoder.java
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public class ByteArrayEncoder extends MessageToMessageEncoder<byte[], ByteBuf> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, byte[] msg) throws Exception {
+    protected ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, byte[] msg) throws Exception {
         if (msg.length == 0) {
             return null;
         }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibDecoder.java
index ddd12a527a..0e606a9d52 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibDecoder.java
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public class JZlibDecoder extends ZlibDecoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void decode(
+    protected void decode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
 
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibEncoder.java
index 39b2d8bf09..19b58c6de3 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JZlibEncoder.java
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ public class JZlibEncoder extends ZlibEncoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx,
             ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         if (finished.get()) {
             return;
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JdkZlibEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JdkZlibEncoder.java
index 74e40494c6..cb11401df5 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JdkZlibEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/JdkZlibEncoder.java
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public class JdkZlibEncoder extends ZlibEncoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         if (finished.get()) {
             out.writeBytes(in);
             in.discardReadBytes();
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedDecoder.java
index 0d24ab10db..6060692c9c 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedDecoder.java
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public class SnappyFramedDecoder extends ByteToByteDecoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         if (!in.readable()) {
             return;
         }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedEncoder.java
index 4e6a5b1502..ea9eaea0a8 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/compression/SnappyFramedEncoder.java
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public class SnappyFramedEncoder extends ByteToByteEncoder {
     private boolean started;
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         if (!in.readable()) {
             return;
         }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingDecoder.java
index ace89b806b..c57f53517e 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingDecoder.java
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class CompatibleMarshallingDecoder extends ReplayingDecoder<Object, Void>
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
         if (discardingTooLongFrame) {
             buffer.skipBytes(actualReadableBytes());
             checkpoint();
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public class CompatibleMarshallingDecoder extends ReplayingDecoder<Object, Void>
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decodeLast(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decodeLast(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf buffer) throws Exception {
         switch (buffer.readableBytes()) {
         case 0:
             return null;
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingEncoder.java
index a7a53e411e..e4466e2850 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/CompatibleMarshallingEncoder.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class CompatibleMarshallingEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         Marshaller marshaller = provider.getMarshaller(ctx);
         marshaller.start(new ChannelBufferByteOutput(out));
         marshaller.writeObject(msg);
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingDecoder.java
index 1dcb9eb773..a86e56b35b 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingDecoder.java
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public class MarshallingDecoder extends LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
         ByteBuf frame = (ByteBuf) super.decode(ctx, in);
         if (frame == null) {
             return null;
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingEncoder.java
index 6539d6556e..4068c72622 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/marshalling/MarshallingEncoder.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public class MarshallingEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         Marshaller marshaller = provider.getMarshaller(ctx);
         int lengthPos = out.writerIndex();
         out.writeBytes(LENGTH_PLACEHOLDER);
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java
index 8c42308ba5..ecc2ca6332 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufDecoder.java
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public class ProtobufDecoder extends MessageToMessageDecoder<ByteBuf, MessageLit
     }
 
     @Override
-    public MessageLite decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
+    protected MessageLite decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
         if (msg.hasArray()) {
             final int offset = msg.readerIndex();
             if (extensionRegistry == null) {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java
index 9e654b26db..737db0bfa5 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufEncoder.java
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public class ProtobufEncoder extends MessageToMessageEncoder<Object, ByteBuf> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg) throws Exception {
+    protected ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg) throws Exception {
         if (msg instanceof MessageLite) {
             return wrappedBuffer(((MessageLite) msg).toByteArray());
         }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32FrameDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32FrameDecoder.java
index a71d9af88f..f3f656f119 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32FrameDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32FrameDecoder.java
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public class ProtobufVarint32FrameDecoder extends ByteToMessageDecoder<Object> {
     //      (just like LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder)
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
         in.markReaderIndex();
         final byte[] buf = new byte[5];
         for (int i = 0; i < buf.length; i ++) {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32LengthFieldPrepender.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32LengthFieldPrepender.java
index 0a5c89f120..be984d02fc 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32LengthFieldPrepender.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/protobuf/ProtobufVarint32LengthFieldPrepender.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class ProtobufVarint32LengthFieldPrepender extends MessageToByteEncoder<B
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(
+    protected void encode(
             ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         int bodyLen = msg.readableBytes();
         int headerLen = CodedOutputStream.computeRawVarint32Size(bodyLen);
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpInboundByteStreamHandler.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpInboundByteStreamHandler.java
index d308a3298d..10cfd897d3 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpInboundByteStreamHandler.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpInboundByteStreamHandler.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class SctpInboundByteStreamHandler extends ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAd
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void messageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, SctpMessage msg) throws Exception {
+    protected void messageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, SctpMessage msg) throws Exception {
         if (!isDecodable(msg)) {
             ctx.nextInboundMessageBuffer().add(msg);
             ctx.fireInboundBufferUpdated();
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpMessageCompletionHandler.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpMessageCompletionHandler.java
index 0b438e5f81..334bf827c1 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpMessageCompletionHandler.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/sctp/SctpMessageCompletionHandler.java
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public class SctpMessageCompletionHandler extends ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAd
     private final Map<Integer, ByteBuf> fragments = new HashMap<Integer, ByteBuf>();
 
     @Override
-    public void messageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, SctpMessage msg) throws Exception {
+    protected void messageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, SctpMessage msg) throws Exception {
 
         final ByteBuf byteBuf = msg.getPayloadBuffer();
         final int protocolIdentifier = msg.getProtocolIdentifier();
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/CompatibleObjectEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/CompatibleObjectEncoder.java
index 2871c4f240..e62787106e 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/CompatibleObjectEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/CompatibleObjectEncoder.java
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ public class CompatibleObjectEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         Attribute<ObjectOutputStream> oosAttr = ctx.attr(OOS);
         ObjectOutputStream oos = oosAttr.get();
         if (oos == null) {
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectDecoder.java
index 8394b05ecf..28e2414a7d 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectDecoder.java
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public class ObjectDecoder extends LengthFieldBasedFrameDecoder {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
+    protected Object decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception {
         ByteBuf frame = (ByteBuf) super.decode(ctx, in);
         if (frame == null) {
             return null;
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectEncoder.java
index 96e620d622..463db27c7d 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/serialization/ObjectEncoder.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class ObjectEncoder extends MessageToByteEncoder<Object> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
+    protected void encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, Object msg, ByteBuf out) throws Exception {
         int startIdx = out.writerIndex();
 
         ByteBufOutputStream bout = new ByteBufOutputStream(out);
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringDecoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringDecoder.java
index 45eb049607..0ae40bf437 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringDecoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringDecoder.java
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public class StringDecoder extends MessageToMessageDecoder<ByteBuf, String> {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public String decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
+    protected String decode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf msg) throws Exception {
         return msg.toString(charset);
     }
 }
diff --git a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringEncoder.java b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringEncoder.java
index 1563e37314..32f8656100 100644
--- a/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringEncoder.java
+++ b/codec/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/string/StringEncoder.java
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public class StringEncoder extends MessageToMessageEncoder<CharSequence, ByteBuf
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, CharSequence msg) throws Exception {
+    protected ByteBuf encode(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, CharSequence msg) throws Exception {
         return Unpooled.copiedBuffer(msg, charset);
     }
 }
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter.java
index 3755f88443..517809d069 100644
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter.java
@@ -53,5 +53,5 @@ public abstract class ChannelInboundByteHandlerAdapter
      * with the data at this point is up to the implementation.
      * Implementations may choose to read it or just let it in the buffer to read it later.
      */
-    public abstract void inboundBufferUpdated(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract void inboundBufferUpdated(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, ByteBuf in) throws Exception;
 }
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter.java
index b41be8e9ed..d935580e1b 100644
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter.java
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ public abstract class ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter<I>
      * special handling.
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("unused")
-    public boolean beginMessageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx) throws Exception {
+    protected boolean beginMessageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx) throws Exception {
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public abstract class ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter<I>
      * @param msg           the message to handle
      * @throws Exception    thrown when an error accour
      */
-    public abstract void messageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg) throws Exception;
+    protected abstract void messageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx, I msg) throws Exception;
 
     /**
      * Is called after all messages of the {@link MessageBuf} was consumed.
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ public abstract class ChannelInboundMessageHandlerAdapter<I>
      * @throws Exception    thrown when an error accour
      */
     @SuppressWarnings("unused")
-    public void endMessageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx) throws Exception {
+    protected void endMessageReceived(ChannelHandlerContext ctx) throws Exception {
         // NOOP
     }
 }