Static method : Redefinition or an override ?

[A Agr]

In K& B book, an example says that

  
 class Animal {
	static void doStuff() {
		System.out.print("a ");
	}
}

class Dog extends Animal {
	static void doStuff() { [b]// it's a redefinition,
	// not an override[/b]
		System.out.print("d ");
	}

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Animal[] a = { new Animal(), new Dog(), new Animal() };
		for (int x = 0; x < a.length; x++)
			a[x].doStuff(); // invoke the static method
	}
}
  

Why static method in subclass is a redefinition and not an override ?

[akash azal]

Static methods cant be overridden

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

If you run your program, you'll see that it prints "a" three times, because doStuff() is called on an Animal reference each time. The fact that one of the calls is through a Dog object doesn't matter at all, only the type of the variable. If you understand what overriding is and how it works for non-static methods, you should understand how this is different.

[A Agr]

That's true. Static methods can't be overridden.

Can I say that if there is a similar static method in subclass,then it will always be a redefinition and never an override ,so no case of compiler complaining about it?

Is it possible to frame an example in case of static methods being overridden ?

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Static methods are never overridden. Overriding (or polymorphism) means that the runtime system decides what method to call while the program is running. Calls to static methods are always "hard-coded" to call a specific method from a specific class; the decision is never made at runtime for static methods.

[A Agr]

Thanks. I got it .