• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
programming forums Java Mobile Certification Databases Caching Books Engineering Micro Controllers OS Languages Paradigms IDEs Build Tools Frameworks Application Servers Open Source This Site Careers Other Pie Elite all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
Marshals:
  • Campbell Ritchie
  • Jeanne Boyarsky
  • Ron McLeod
  • Paul Clapham
  • Liutauras Vilda
Sheriffs:
  • paul wheaton
  • Rob Spoor
  • Devaka Cooray
Saloon Keepers:
  • Stephan van Hulst
  • Tim Holloway
  • Carey Brown
  • Frits Walraven
  • Tim Moores
Bartenders:
  • Mikalai Zaikin

What is the difference between overriding a method and redefining a method ?

 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 52
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
static methods cannot be over ridden
But why is it that they can be overridden when downcasting is used ?

 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 492
Firefox Browser VI Editor Linux
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Not quite sure what you mean by downcasting? can you elaborate.

Hunter
 
Greenhorn
Posts: 23
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Since static methods are class members and not instance members, the method that is corresponding to the type of the type of the reference variable will be called.

In your example,


is equivalent to converting the object of class Animal to object of class Dog and then calling the method on it. This works because the class that the compiler sees is Dog class and hence invoke the method corresponding to Dog class.

In the next case, since a[] is an array that holds Animal objects, the method corresponding to Animal class is invoked.

I hope it clears your doubt.
 
Marshal
Posts: 79177
377
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Try writing an SSCCE which demonstrates your question, then see what happens when you run it. You will remember so much more of what you do than of what you are told.
 
Look ma! I'm selling my stuff!
a bit of art, as a gift, the permaculture playing cards
https://gardener-gift.com
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic