static & early binding

[Rr Kumaran]

Hi All,

1class parent
2{
3int a=10;
4public void getme1()
5{
6System.out.println ("parent");
7}
8}
9
10class child extends parent
11{
12int a=10;
13
14public void getme1()
15{
16System.out.println ("child");
17//System.out.println (a);
18}
19
20public static void main(String args[])
21{
22parent p = (parent)new child();
23                      parent p1 = new child();
24p.getme1();
25System.out.println (p.a);
26}
27}

In the above code snippet,

1. what is the difference between lines 22 and 23 ?
2. why the statement on line 25 prints class parent's instance variable 'a' instead of class child's instance variable 'a' ?


Thanks & Regars,
Kumar.

[Junilu Lacar]

1. what is the difference between lines 22 and 23 ?

The cast in line 22 is unnecessary and has no effect on how any of the succeeding statements will be executed.

2. why the statement on line 25 prints class parent's instance variable 'a' instead of class child's instance variable 'a' ?

Because unlike the non-static methods, instance variables do not participate in polymorphism and are resolved at compile time.
[ June 14, 2004: Message edited by: Junilu Lacar ]

[Rr Kumaran]

Thanks Lucar.