Are static methods are overriden??

[Narasimha Rao B.]

Hi,
Somewhere i read that, static methods will not be overriden, because static methods will not be inherited even they are public. Then, observe the below programme,
--------
1class P {
2 static void printS1(){System.out.print("P.printS1 ");}
3 void printS2() {System.out.print("P.printS2 ");}
4 void printS1S2(){printS1();printS2();}
5}
6public class D extends P {
8 void printS2(){System.out.print("Q.printS2 ");}
9 void printS1S2(){printS1();printS2();}
10
11
12 public static void main(String[] args) {
13 new D().printS1S2();
14}}
output - P.printS1 Q.printS2
--------------
In line number 9 of subclass D, i am invoking the method called, printS1(), which is a static method declared in the super class. If static methods are not inherited, then how the above progrmme is compiling and giving the below output.P.printS1 Q.printS2

Thanks,
Narasimha.

[Vicken Karaoghlanian]

Who says that static methods are not inherited!!! Only methods that are marked with the private accecibilty are not inherited.
Static methods are not overriden, they are hidden. This means that the method which is actually invoked at runtime is based on the type of the reference, not on the type of the object instance.

class Parent {
static void aMethod() {
System.out.println("Parent -- aMethod");
}

void anotherMethod() {
System.out.println("Parent -- anotherMethod");
}

}
class Child extends Parent {

static void aMethod() {
System.out.println("Child -- aMethod");
}

void anotherMethod() {
System.out.println("Child -- anotherMethod");
}

public static void main(String[] args) {

Parent p1 = new Child();
Parent p2 = new Parent();
Child c = new Child();

p1.aMethod();
p1.anotherMethod();

System.out.println();

p2.aMethod();
p2.anotherMethod();

System.out.println();

c.aMethod();
c.anotherMethod();
}
}

[Narasimha Rao B.]

Hi Vicken,
Thanks a lot for you quick and also nice example. I think i misunderstood the concept of hiding the method of the super class in the subclass, with overriden principle.
Thanks once agin,
Narasimha.

[Liz Brown]

Viken-
In your code-
Parent p1 = new Child();-->why do you use Child to create Parent p1 obj?
//below 2 i can understand is normal way to instantiate the objs.
Parent p2 = new Parent();
Child c = new Child();
can you please explain the 1st statement? i get confused here sometimes.
thanks.

[Vicken Karaoghlanian]

Originally posted by shivan B:
Viken-
In your code-
Parent p1 = new Child();-->why do you use Child to create Parent p1 obj?
//below 2 i can understand is normal way to instantiate the objs.
Parent p2 = new Parent();
Child c = new Child();
can you please explain the 1st statement? i get confused here sometimes.
thanks.

It is called polymorphism, you can find more about it here

[Liz Brown]

thanks! that was a cool explaination