Constructor,why displaying null on this program

[Shiva Mohan]

    
class Parent { 
    String s="Parent"  ;
 
    public Parent(){ 
        method(); 
    } 
 
   public void method(){ 
        System.out.println("----------"); 
      System.out.println(s); 
    } 
    
} 
                  
 
                  
class Child extends Parent { 
   String s = "Child"; 
    public Child(){
       
    } 
     public void method(){ 
        System.out.println("***********"); 
      System.out.println(s); 
    } 
} 
public class Doubt { 
     
    public static void main(String[] args) { 
       Child child = new Child(); 
      
 
    } 
}

When the Child class loaded in main() method,at that time s=�Child� member variable is initialized.Right?
Then why the answer s=null printing when we access super class constructor method() will call Child class method() method?I thought it would print s=Child.Please Explain the rules.

[Keith Lynn]

Because the superclass is initialized during the process of initializing the subclass. The instance variables in the subclass are given default values, and before they are initialized there is an implicit call to the no-args constructor of the superclass. During that call, an overridden method is called. Since it is overridden in the subclass and that is the method that executes. Since the subclass has not finished initializing yet, the value of its instance variables are the default values.
[ September 20, 2006: Message edited by: Keith Lynn ]

[Srinivas Kalvala]

Hello,

The simple & straight answer is, the instance variables are created and assigned default values until the super class constructor is executed, then the values are assigned.

 
class din
{
String k="Hello";
public din()
{
System.out.println("Inside this Parent "+k);
method();

}
public void method()
{
System.out.println("Inside Method Parent "+k);
}

}
class test extends din
{
String k="Hello";
public test()
{
System.out.println("Inside this Child  "+k);
method();
}
public void method()
{
System.out.println("Inside Method Child "+k);
}
}
public class TestIt{
public static void main (String[] args){
try{

new test();

}catch(Exception e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
}
  }
}
 

Output:
--------------

Inside this Parent Hello
Inside Method Child null
Inside this Child Hello
Inside Method Child Hello


As you see, the Parent method() is not called....

[Shiva Mohan]

Srinivas and Keith thank you so much for all your help.