Rules for Method Overriding and Example Program

Rules for Method Overriding

  • The argument list should be exactly the same as that of the overridden method.
  • The return type should be the same or a subtype of the return type declared in the original overridden method in the superclass.
  • The access level cannot be more restrictive than the overridden method's access level. For example: If the superclass method is declared public then the overridding method in the sub class cannot be either private or protected.
  • Instance methods can be overridden only if they are inherited by the subclass.
  • A method declared final cannot be overridden.
  • A method declared static cannot be overridden but can be re-declared.
  • If a method cannot be inherited, then it cannot be overridden.
  • A subclass within the same package as the instance's superclass can override any superclass method that is not declared private or final.
  • A subclass in a different package can only override the non-final methods declared public or protected.
  • An overriding method can throw any uncheck exceptions, regardless of whether the overridden method throws exceptions or not. However, the overriding method should not throw checked exceptions that are new or broader than the ones declared by the overridden method. The overriding method can throw narrower or fewer exceptions than the overridden method.
  • Constructors cannot be overridden.

Example :

class Human
{
   //Overridden method
   public void eat()
   {
      System.out.println("Human is eating");
   }
}
class Boy extends Human
{
   //Overriding method
   public void eat()
   {
       super.eat();
      System.out.println("Boy is eating");
   }
}
class OverRide
{
   public static void main( String args[]) 
{
      Boy obj = new Boy();
      //This will call the child class version of eat()
      obj.eat();
   }
}

Super Keyword in Java

The super keyword in Java is a reference variable which is used to refer immediate parent class object.
Whenever you create the instance of subclass, an instance of parent class is created implicitly which is referred by super reference variable.

Usage of Java super Keyword

  1. super can be used to refer immediate parent class instance variable.
  2. super can be used to invoke immediate parent class method.
  3. super() can be used to invoke immediate parent class constructor.





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