interfaces

[Roll]

: When i try to compile this
: class Super {}
: public class Sub extends Super {
: public static void main(String[] args){
: Super s = new Super();
: Sub s1 = (Sub)s;
: //s = s1;
: }
: }
: Iam agetting runtime error as ClassCastException
: But the same ClassCastException is not occurring when i try to use the below code in the below program
: Object obj = aBase; //code
: Runnable rn = (Runnable)obj; //code
: Any explanations !!!

: PROGRAM
: : Suppose we have two classes defined as follows:
: : class ApBase extends Object implements Runnable
: : class ApDerived extends ApBase implements Observer
: : Given two variables created as follows:
: : ApBase aBase = new ApBase();
: : ApDerived aDer = new ApDerived();
: : Which of the following Java code fragments will compile and execute without error?
: : a)Object obj = aBase;
: : Runnabel rn = obj;
: : b)Object obj = aBase;
: : Runnabel rn = (Runnable)obj;
: : c)Object obj = aBase;
: : Observer ob (Observer)aBase;
: : d)Object obj = aDer;
: : Observer ob2 = obj;
: : The given answer was only b) why not a).
: : ANY EXPLANATIONs
: : ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED

[paul wheaton]

You can't cast a class to something it isn't. A "Super" is not a "Sub" even though a "Sub" is a "Super".

[Sam Cooper]

Could some one please go over this casting example once again.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated

[Corey McGlone]

Originally posted by Sam Cooper:
Could some one please go over this casting example once again.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated

Okay - here goes. Corey's synopsis 'o casting...
When dealing with two objects that are in an inheritance relationship, it is possible to use a child object wherever you expect a parent object. Take the following example:

class Animal
{
   int numFeet;
}
 
public class Dog extends Animal
{
   String name;
 
   public static void main(String[] args)
   {
      Animal a = new Animal();
      Dog d = new Dog();
      Animal a1 = new Dog();  // 1
   }
}

A key to remember is that you can always use a child class wherever you can use a parent class. This is because the child class has an "is a" relationship with the parent. In this case, a Dog "is a" Animal. Therefore, you can use a Dog wherever an Animal is expected, like I did in line 1.
When you use an instance of a child class when the compiler is expecting an instance of a parent class, an implicit "widening" conversion is done. However, just like with Java primitives, this conversion doesn't work both ways. Let's continue the example from above...I'll just continue the code in main below:

// This is the same code from main above
Animal a = new Animal();
Dog d = new Dog();
Animal a1 = new Dog();  // 1
 
// We'll continue from here
//d = a1;    // 2  --  Illegal
d = (Dog)a1  // 3  --  Legal

Line 2 is illegal because I'm trying to use an instance of a parent class where an instance of a child is expected. An Animal is not a Dog - it might be a Cat, or a Bat, or a Rat (I'm such a poet). Therefore, the compiler forces us to say "Yes, the object a1 references is really a Dog and I'll take responsibility for anything that happens." That's what we're doing in line 3. The cast tells the compiler that we know that a1 references a Dog object. In this case, we're right a1 really does reference a Dog object, so this code will compile and run just fine. However, is a1 really referenced an Animal, this code would compile, but it would throw a CastClassException (which "is a" RuntimeException) when you tried to execute it.
So, those are the rules about casting parents and siblings. Now, let's look at how you cast and assign siblings. Look at the following code:

class Animal
{
   int numFeet;
}
 
class Dog extends Animal
{
   String name;
}
 
public class Cat extends Animal
{
   boolean longHaired;
 
   public static void main(String[] args)
   {
      Cat c = new Cat();
      Dog d = new Dog();
      Cat c1 = (Cat)new Dog();  // 1
      Dog d1 = (Dog)new Cat();  // 2
   }
}

In this code, I'm casting a Dog to a Cat and vice versa. THIS IS ILLEGAL! This code will not compile. A Dog is not a Cat and a Cat is not a Dog, even though they are both animals. In Java, siblings are not really related in any way.
So, that's what I know about casting. I hope that helps - if you have more questions, please ask.
Corey