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Reference Conversions doubt

 
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For the following question:

interface I1 {} interface I2 {}
class Base implements I1 {}
class Sub extends Base implements I2 {}
class Orange {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Base base = new Base();
I1 i1 = base; // 1
Sub sub = (Sub)base; // 2
}}

Answer:Run-time error at line 2


Doubts:
1. why error @ runtime and not compile time?
2. is this always the case that whenever we downcast a parent class we will get runtime error?

Please help,

regards,
gitesh
 
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Originally posted by Gitesh Ramchandani:
For the following question:

interface I1 {} interface I2 {}
class Base implements I1 {}
class Sub extends Base implements I2 {}
class Orange {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Base base = new Base();
I1 i1 = base; // 1
Sub sub = (Sub)base; // 2
}}

Answer:Run-time error at line 2


Doubts:
1. why error @ runtime and not compile time?
2. is this always the case that whenever we downcast a parent class we will get runtime error?

Please help,

regards,
gitesh



Yes Gitesh downcasting is runtime exception.
[ August 27, 2007: Message edited by: Akhilesh Trivedi ]
 
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Hi ,
Your code compiles because the compiler sees that the base (reference ) can potentially have a Sub Object , so it allows your code to compile .
Now at runtime when you have a Base object referred by base (reference ) ,
which you are trying to cast to a Sub type , so your code gives the exception .

2. is this always the case that whenever we downcast a parent class we will get runtime error?

You cannot assign a Base Object to a reference of a Sub Type . never .

I think you need to understand what is a
1) Object ( not the java.lang.Object ).
2) Reference to an Object .
 
Gitesh Ramchandani
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thanks for help.
 
Gitesh Ramchandani
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thanks for help.
 
Consider Paul's rocket mass heater.
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