doubt in inheritance...

[Ganeshkumar cheekati]

can attributes in the subclass override the attributes in the super class?

can attributes inherited?


can you explain me with an example?

[Pawan Arora]

Originally posted by Ganeshkumar cheekati:
can attributes in the subclass override the attributes in the super class?

can attributes inherited?


can you explain me with an example?

I think so, subclass can override the attribute of the superclass, here is a simple programme which could prove that line.

class Super
{
public int arr=34;
public void method()
{
}
}
class Sub extends Super
{
public int arr=3;
Sub()
{
System.out.println(arr);
}
 
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Sub e=new Sub();
}
}

The answer of it is 3
and,

class Super
{
public int arr=34;
public void method()
{
}
}
class Sub extends Super
{

Sub()
{
System.out.println(arr);
}

public static void main(String[] args)
{
Sub e=new Sub();
}
}

The answer of this program is 34
[ October 24, 2008: Message edited by: Pawan Arora ]

[grigoris philippoussis]

I think, in the above example, this is a question of scope. The class sees its own variable before that of it's base-class (I might be wrong here!)

Otherwise, the SCJP book by Sierra and Bates has a very good discussion on the rules for inheritance.

[grigoris philippoussis]

I tried this, you can print out super.arr as well!
So the class appears to have two variables called arr.
Can someone explain this further?

[Rekha Srinath]

Instance variables cannot be overridden. In this case, the 'arr' variable in 'Sub' class is a new declaration done in Sub, and is NOT an overridden instance variable.

As per rules of method overriding, the overridden method in the subclass should not be more restrictive than the superclass version, right?

But, If you have the subclass code as private int arr = 45; ,it will compile, even though 'arr' has more restrictive privilege in the subclass. This means that 'arr' is not overridden.

On the other hand, if you override public void method() as private void method() in the subclass, you will get a compiler error.

So, this proves that only instance methods can be overridden and not instance variables.
But, both instance methods and instance variables are inherited. The property of superclass is the property of subclass also (unless the member is not private)

[Ankit Garg]

well fields act just as static members. you cannot override them. however you can declare a field with the same name in a sub-class as a field in the super class. I have changed the example by pawan

class Super
{
  public int arr=34;
}
class Sub extends Super
{
  public int arr=3;  //not overriding
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    [B]Super[/B] e=new Sub();
    System.out.println(e.arr); //prints 34 not 3
  }
}

[Ganeshkumar cheekati]

so variables depends upon the reference variable which can be used to call the variable if both variables are having same name in super as well as sub class..

am i right?

[Bob Ruth]

I think this is referred to as "hiding" or "shadowing".

If you have a superclass and subclass that each contain a variable with the same name, the access is controlled by the type of the reference variable. If the reference variable is super you will access the superclass' variable. If the reference variable is subclass you will access the subclass' variable. Now BOTH of these cases are talking about direct access (refVar.varName style). If a superclass variable is used to reference a method that is overridden in the subclass and it uses the same variable name.... IT will use the subclass variable.

[Gabriel Ozeas]

Be careful with methods!!

class Super{
public int arr=34;
public void method(){}
public void getArr(){}
}
class Sub extends Super{
public int arr=3;
 
Sub(){
System.out.println(arr);
}
 
public static void main(String[] args){
Sub e = new Sub();
System.out.println(e.arr);
Super a = new Sub();
System.out.println(a.arr);
a.getArr();
}

public void getArr(){
System.out.println(arr);
}
}

the a.getArr() will print 3 because the compiler add this. to the variable...

So pay attention

[ October 24, 2008: Message edited by: Gabriel Ozeas ]
[ October 24, 2008: Message edited by: Gabriel Ozeas ]