19CST102 & Object Oriented Programming

SNS COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

(An Autonomous Institution)
COIMBATORE – 35
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SIENCE AND ENGINEERING

UNIT 3

Method Overriding in Java

1. Understanding the problem without method overriding
2. Can we override the static method
3. Method overloading vs. method overriding

If subclass (child class) has the same method as declared in the parent class, it is known
as method overriding in Java.

In other words, If a subclass provides the specific implementation of the method that
has been declared by one of its parent class, it is known as method overriding.

Usage of Java Method Overriding

o Method overriding is used to provide the specific implementation of a method which is
already provided by its superclass.
o Method overriding is used for runtime polymorphism

Rules for Java Method Overriding

1. The method must have the same name as in the parent class
2. The method must have the same parameter as in the parent class.
3. There must be an IS-A relationship (inheritance).

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 19CST102 & Object Oriented Programming

Understanding the problem without method overriding

Let's understand the problem that we may face in the program if we don't use method
overriding.

1. //Java Program to demonstrate why we need method overriding

2. //Here, we are calling the method of parent class with child
3. //class object.
4. //Creating a parent class
5. class Vehicle{
6. void run(){System.out.println("Vehicle is running");}
7. }
8. //Creating a child class
9. class Bike extends Vehicle{
10. public static void main(String args[]){
11. //creating an instance of child class
12. Bike obj = new Bike();
13. //calling the method with child class instance
14. obj.run();
15. }

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 19CST102 & Object Oriented Programming

16. }
Test it Now

Output:

Vehicle is running

Problem is that I have to provide a specific implementation of run() method in subclass

that is why we use method overriding.

Example of method overriding

In this example, we have defined the run method in the subclass as defined in the
parent class but it has some specific implementation. The name and parameter of the
method are the same, and there is IS-A relationship between the classes, so there is
method overriding.

1. //Java Program to illustrate the use of Java Method Overriding

2. //Creating a parent class.
3. class Vehicle{
4. //defining a method
5. void run(){System.out.println("Vehicle is running");}
6. }
7. //Creating a child class
8. class Bike2 extends Vehicle{
9. //defining the same method as in the parent class
10. void run(){System.out.println("Bike is running safely");}
11.
12. public static void main(String args[]){
13. Bike2 obj = new Bike2();//creating object
14. obj.run();//calling method
15. }
16. }
Test it Now

Output:

Bike is running safely

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 19CST102 & Object Oriented Programming

A real example of Java Method Overriding

Consider a scenario where Bank is a class that provides functionality to get the rate of
interest. However, the rate of interest varies according to banks. For example, SBI, ICICI
and AXIS banks could provide 8%, 7%, and 9% rate of interest.

Java method overriding is mostly used in Runtime Polymorphism

which we will learn in next pages.
1. //Java Program to demonstrate the real scenario of Java Method Overriding
2. //where three classes are overriding the method of a parent class.
3. //Creating a parent class.
4. class Bank{
5. int getRateOfInterest(){return 0;}
6. }
7. //Creating child classes.
8. class SBI extends Bank{
9. int getRateOfInterest(){return 8;}
10. }
11.
12. class ICICI extends Bank{
13. int getRateOfInterest(){return 7;}
14. }
15. class AXIS extends Bank{
16. int getRateOfInterest(){return 9;}
17. }
18. //Test class to create objects and call the methods
19. class Test2{
20. public static void main(String args[]){

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 19CST102 & Object Oriented Programming

21. SBI s=new SBI();

22. ICICI i=new ICICI();
23. AXIS a=new AXIS();
24. System.out.println("SBI Rate of Interest: "+s.getRateOfInterest());
25. System.out.println("ICICI Rate of Interest: "+i.getRateOfInterest());
26. System.out.println("AXIS Rate of Interest: "+a.getRateOfInterest());
27. }
28. }
Test it Now

Output:
SBI Rate of Interest: 8
ICICI Rate of Interest: 7
AXIS Rate of Interest: 9

Can we override static method?

No, a static method cannot be overridden. It can be proved by runtime polymorphism,
so we will learn it later.

Why can we not override static method?

It is because the static method is bound with class whereas instance method is bound
with an object. Static belongs to the class area, and an instance belongs to the heap
area.

Can we override java main method?

No, because the main is a static method.

Difference between method overloading and

method overriding in java
There are many differences between method overloading and method overriding in java. A list
of differences between method overloading and method overriding are given below:

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 19CST102 & Object Oriented Programming

No. Method Overloading Method Overriding

Method overriding is used to provide the

Method overloading is used to increase the
1) specific implementation of the method that is
readability of the program.
already provided by its super class.

Method overloading is performed within Method overriding occurs in two classes that
2)
class. have IS-A (inheritance) relationship.

In case of method overloading, parameter In case of method overriding, parameter

3)
must be different. must be same.

Method overloading is the example of Method overriding is the example of run time
4)
compile time polymorphism. polymorphism.

In java, method overloading can't be

performed by changing return type of the
Return type must be same or covariant in
5) method only. Return type can be same or
method overriding.
different in method overloading. But you must
have to change the parameter.

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