When you learn Java, one of the first things you come across is inheritance. A child class can inherit methods from a parent class. But what if the child class wants to do something differently using the same method? That is exactly where overriding in Java comes in. It is a simple concept that makes your code flexible, clean, and powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This guide explains method overriding in Java from scratch with real examples, rules, and tips that every beginner needs to know before writing object-oriented Java code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quick Answer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Overriding in Java means a child class redefines a method that already exists in its parent class, using the same name, same parameters, and same return type. When you call that method on a child class object, the child’s version runs instead of the parent’s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before understanding overriding, you need to know these two terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parent Class (Superclass):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Child Class (Subclass):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Inheritance means the child class gets all the public and protected methods of the parent class automatically. Overriding means the child class replaces one of those inherited methods with its own version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Method overriding in Java<\/a> means the child class writes its own version of a method that was already defined in the parent class. Both versions have the same name, same parameters, and same return type. But they do different things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you create an object of the child class and call that method, Java runs the child’s version, not the parent’s. This is called runtime polymorphism<\/a> because Java decides which version to run at the time the program is running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simple real-life example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of it like a recipe passed down from parent to child. The parent has a recipe for making tea. The child inherits it but makes their own version with ginger and lemon. The dish is still called “making tea” but the steps are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do check out HCL GUVI\u2019s Java Course for Beginners<\/a> if you want to learn core Java concepts like method overriding, inheritance, polymorphism, OOP principles, and real-world Java programming from scratch. This beginner-friendly course includes hands-on coding exercises and practical examples to help you build a strong foundation in Java development.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parent class:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Java code<\/p>\n\n\n\n Child class overriding the method:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Java code<\/p>\n\n\n\n Main class:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Java code<\/p>\n\n\n\n Output:<\/strong> Dog barks<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though Dog inherits sound() from Animal, its own version runs because it overrides it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have noticed @Override written above the method in the child class. This is called an annotation. It is not compulsory but it is highly recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What @Override does:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Always use @Override when overriding a method. It is a best practice in Java development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These rules must be followed. Breaking any of them will cause an error or the method will not override correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is a Parent Class and Child Class<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Is Overriding in Java<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Overriding in Java: Basic Example<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
class Animal {\n void sound() {\n System.out.println(\"Animal makes a sound\");\n }\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nclass Dog extends Animal {\n @Override\n void sound() {\n System.out.println(\"Dog barks\");\n }\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nclass Main {\n public static void main(String[] args) {\n Dog d = new Dog();\n d.sound();\n }\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nWhat Is @Override Annotation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Rules of Overriding in Java<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n