private methods

[Sridhar Srinivasan]

Can private methods be overloaded?
How about private final methods?They are not inherited and can they be overriden?
[ May 13, 2004: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Shilpi M Ag]

Private methods are not visible outside the class.. so u can definitely overload and override it...

  
public class superClass
{
private void aMethod(int i)
{
System.out.println("superClass::aMethod");
}
 
}
class baseClass extends superClass
{
private void aMethod(int i,int y)
{
System.out.println("baseClass::aMethod");
}
private void aMethod(int i)
{
System.out.println("baseClass::aMethod");
}
}

[Paul Tongyoo]

Originally posted by Shilpi M Ag:
[QB]Private methods are not visible outside the class.. so u can definitely overload and override it...
[QB]

Since private methods are not visible outside their class, you can't actually "override" the method as you would be doing if that superclass method was public. You're just providing a method with an identical method signature (access level, method name, parameter list) in a subclass.
From the subclass method's perspective, it wouldn't be "overriding" anything since it can't see the private superclass method in the first place.

I thought I'd make the clarification since the the word "override" has a special meaning in the context of object-oriented programming.

Paul

[Kevin Scott]

Originally posted by Shilpi M Ag:
[QB]Private methods are not visible outside the class.. so u can definitely overload and override it...
[QB]

Acutally, I don't think that technically counts as overriding

To quote the excellent K&B book (pg 75): "Since the subclass, as we've seen, cannot inherit a private method, it therefore cannot override the method - overriding depends on inheritance"

[Kevin Scott]

Originally posted by Shilpi M Ag:
[QB]Private methods are not visible outside the class.. so u can definitely overload and override it...
[QB]

Acutally, I don't think that technically counts as overriding

To quote the excellent K&B book (pg 75): "Since the subclass, as we've seen, cannot inherit a private method, it therefore cannot override the method - overriding depends on inheritance"

[Sridhar Srinivasan]

Hi Paul!
Since it's not visible in the subclass, I can have the same name with same argument list and return type.Since I am not actually overriding, I don't need to follow the rules for access overriding(like access modifiers and exception). Am I rite?

Similarly I can have the method even thne superclass method is private and final.How abt the Polymorphic effects.In this case, Will it come in to role or not?Can anybody explain pl! Thanks

[Shilpi M Ag]

I am sorry for having written the sentence in the wrong manner.. I meant to say that since it not visible the compiler will not complain.. since it is like a new method for the compiler

[Corey McGlone]

From the JLS, §8.4.6.3 Requirements in Overriding and Hiding:

Note that a private method cannot be hidden or overridden in the technical sense of those terms. This means that a subclass can declare a method with the same signature as a private method in one of its superclasses, and there is no requirement that the return type or throws clause of such a method bear any relationship to those of the private method in the superclass.

[Sridhar Srinivasan]

Thanks.