Java MCQ: In Java, is it possible to override a static method?
Answer:
Explanation:
In Java, static methods cannot be overridden because they belong to the class rather than to instances of the class. When a method is declared as static, it is associated with the class itself, not with any specific object created from that class. This means that static methods are not subject to polymorphism, which is the ability of a subclass to provide a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass.
Instead of overriding, static methods can be hidden. If a subclass defines a static method with the same signature as a static method in its superclass, the method in the subclass hides the one in the superclass. However, this does not constitute overriding because the method resolution is based on the class type, not the object type:
class Animal {
static void makeSound() {
System.out.println("Animal sound");
}
}
class Dog extends Animal {
static void makeSound() {
System.out.println("Dog barks");
}
}
Animal animal = new Dog();
animal.makeSound(); // Outputs: Animal sound
In this example, even though makeSound() is defined in both Animal and Dog, the method call is resolved based on the class type of the reference variable (Animal), not the actual object type (Dog). This illustrates that static methods are resolved at compile time and are not subject to the same dynamic method dispatch mechanism that applies to instance methods.
Understanding this distinction is crucial for correctly using static methods in Java and avoiding common misconceptions about method overriding and inheritance in object-oriented programming.