Typecasting

[shruti patel]

why cannot we typecast the super class object to sublass?

final A a= new A();
is this legal?

[Paul Sturrock]

final A a= new A();
is this legal?

Yes. Though this example doesn't seem to be related to your question.

[Susan Smith]

Shruti, I think there are two separate questions in your post, right?
I had same confusion with Paul also at the beginning.

For the 1st question:
>>>> why cannot we typecast the super class object to sublass?
Maybe this analogy will help:
Superclass --> Animal
Subclass --> Lion
Try the ".. IS A(N) ..." test:

Lion IS AN animal --> Yes

Animal IS A lion ?? This one doesn't make sense, right?

Hope it helps.
[ July 17, 2008: Message edited by: Susan Smith ]

[Rob Spoor]

To come back to IS A(N), you will need to cast if you can't use IS A(N) but can use MIGHT BE A(N):

Animal IS A Lion? No.
But Animcal MIGHT BE A Lion? Sure.

If this is also not the case you can never cast between the two:
String IS AN Integer? No.
String MIGH BE AN Integer? No.


Please note that you should never cast unless you are really sure that the cast will succeed, for instance by checking with instanceof. Remember, if the cast is invalid it will throw a ClassCastException. This happens if the Animal MIGHT BE A Lion but is in fact a Tiger, and you still try to cast it to a Lion.
[ July 17, 2008: Message edited by: Rob Prime ]

[Rahul Shilpakar]

Suppose any Superclass has 3 Characteristics like (1, 2, 3).
So its obvious that Subclass should have all the three Characters of its Superclass in it. And it can also has its own characteristics (4,5)(it means subclass is more specific).

Now, Subclass has total 5 characteristics (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ).

Now want to cast Superclass in to Subclass means you want Superclass of (3charactoristics) exactly like Subclass of (5 characteristics ).

How can characteristics 4 & 5 will come in Superclass?

Am right! Thats the answer.