When importing two classes with the same unqualified name, which will be chosen?

Question

When we import List from both java.awt.List and java.util.List, which one is selected when we refer to List in subsequent code?

if you import both, the compiler will complain about an ambiguous type. you'll need to specify it yourself, like: java.lang.List a = new java.lang.List(); but I assume you just meant this as an example, since the java.lang.List interface doesn't exist. — Stultuske, Jul 10 '14 at 10:16
This has potential to be a good question if it's reworded, please don't close it just yet. — jr., Jul 10 '14 at 10:18
possible duplicate of [Importing two classes with same name. How to handle?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2079823/importing-two-classes-with-same-name-how-to-handle) — jr., Jul 10 '14 at 10:39
Also see: [How to import two classes with the same name in different packages?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3731125/how-to-import-two-classes-with-the-same-name-in-different-packages) — jr., Jul 10 '14 at 10:44
Asking of a construct not exists. You simply *cannot* import both. — johnchen902, Jul 10 '14 at 12:17

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 10 '14 at 10:25

This cannot be done. A compile-time error similar to the following will occur:

The import java.awt.List collides with another import statement

The way to achieve this is to qualify one of the references.

import java.util.List;

public class Example
{
    public static void main( String[] args )
    {
        List<String> stringList = new LinkedList<>();
        java.awt.List guiList = new java.awt.List();
}

When importing two classes with the same unqualified name, which will be chosen?

1 Answers1