Why is it impossible to have a static method in the subclass with the same signature as in parent class?

Question

class Parent {
    public final static void fun() {
        System.out.println("parent");
    }
}

public class Child extends Parent {        
    // doesn't compile! 
    public static void fun() {
        System.out.println("child");
    }
}

I just want to find out why they allow final modifier here? We all know that static methods belong to a class and not to object, so it is impossible to override the method in the subclass. So as for me final in redundant here.

you can redefine static method in subclass. +1 to @Michael's answer to pointing exact reason of compilation failure. — Braj, Sep 19 '15 at 19:27

Michael · Answer 1 · 2015-09-19T19:27:25.247

2

You declared that method as final, which means you sealed it. A final method cannot be redefined by a subclass. Per Oracle,

You use the final keyword in a method declaration to indicate that the method cannot be overridden by subclasses

edited Sep 19 '15 at 19:27

answered Sep 19 '15 at 19:22

Michael

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this is true for instance method, but not for class methods. – Finkelson Sep 19 '15 at 19:29
@user3552363 Read the duplicate question. For class methods, `final` prevents _hiding_ the parent class' method. – M A Sep 19 '15 at 19:31

Why is it impossible to have a static method in the subclass with the same signature as in parent class?

1 Answers1