Is there a way to override class variables in Java

Question

class Dad
{
    protected static String me = "dad";

    public void printMe()
    {
        System.out.println(me);
    }
}

class Son extends Dad
{
    protected static String me = "son";
}

public void doIt()
{
    new Son().printMe();
}

The function doIt will print "dad". Is there a way to make it print "son"?

Answer 1

Yes, just override the printMe() method:

class Son extends Dad {
        public static final String me = "son";

        @Override
        public void printMe() {
                System.out.println(me);
        }
}

Answer 2

In short, no, there is no way to override a class variable.

You do not override class variables in Java you hide them. Overriding is for instance methods. Hiding is different from overriding.

In the example you've given, by declaring the class variable with the name 'me' in class Son you hide the class variable it would have inherited from its superclass Dad with the same name 'me'. Hiding a variable in this way does not affect the value of the class variable 'me' in the superclass Dad.

For the second part of your question, of how to make it print "son", I'd set the value via the constructor. Although the code below departs from your original question quite a lot, I would write it something like this;

public class Person {
    private String name;

    public Person(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public void printName() {
        System.out.println(name);
    }
}

The JLS gives a lot more detail on hiding in section 8.3 - Field Declarations

Answer 3

only by overriding printMe():

class Son extends Dad 
{
    public void printMe() 
    {
        System.out.println("son");
    }
}

the reference to me in the Dad.printMe method implicitly points to the static field Dad.me, so one way or another you're changing what printMe does in Son...

Answer 4

Though it is true that class variables may only be hidden in subclasses, and not overridden, it is still possible to do what you want without overriding printMe () in subclasses, and reflection is your friend. In the code below I omit exception handling for clarity. Please note that declaring me as protected does not seem to have much sense in this context, as it is going to be hidden in subclasses...

class Dad
  {
    static String me = "dad";

    public void printMe ()
      {
        java.lang.reflect.Field field = this.getClass ().getDeclaredField ("me");
        System.out.println (field.get (null));
      }
  }

Answer 5

Yes. But as the variable is concerned it is overwrite (Giving new value to variable. Giving new definition to the function is Override).Just don't declare the variable but initialize (change) in the constructor or static block.

The value will get reflected when using in the blocks of parent class

if the variable is static then change the value during initialization itself with static block,

class Son extends Dad {
    static { 
       me = 'son'; 
    }
}

or else change in constructor.

You can also change the value later in any blocks. It will get reflected in super class

Answer 6

class Dad
{
    protected static String me = "dad";

    public void printMe()
    {
        System.out.println(me);
    }
}

class Son extends Dad
{
    protected static String _me = me = "son";
}

public void doIt()
{
    new Son().printMe();
}

... will print "son".