Method overriding is a subclass providing a concrete implementation of the defined method of the parent class, changing behavior by keeping the same name and parameters. ① Method rewriting makes the code more flexible. For example, the area() method of the Shape base class can be rewritten by Circle and Square subclasses to realize their respective calculation methods; ② Rewriting requires that the subclass method has the same name, the same return type, and the same parameters as the parent class. Python does not require special keywords, and Java/C# is annotated with @Override/override; ③ Applicable to the use of final/sealed methods or irrelevant logic when subclasses in the inheritance system require different behaviors; ④ Notes include not changing signatures to cause overloading, forgetting to call the parent class method, the inability to rewrite private methods, and language differences.
Method overriding is when a subclass provides a specific implementation for a method that's already defined in its parent class. The main point is that the child class can change how the method behaves while keeping the same name and parameters, which allows for more flexible and reusable code.
Why method overriding matters
Overriding methods makes your code more adaptable. For example, you might have a base class called Shape
with a method area()
. If you create subclasses like Circle
and Square
, each one can override area()
to calculate it in a way that makes sense for that particular shape.
This helps keep your code organized — you define what each class should do in a general way at the top level, then fill in the details where they make the most sense.
How to override a method
Here's the basic idea:
- The method in the child class must have the same name, return type, and parameters as the parent method.
- You don't need any special keyword in some languages ??(like Python), just re-declare the method. In Java or C#, you often use keywords like
@Override
oroverride
to make it clear.
For instance, if you have a class Animal
with a method makeSound()
, and a subclass Dog
that overrides it, calling makeSound()
on a Dog
instance will use the version from Dog
, not Animal
.
When to use it (and when not to)
You'll usually want to override methods when you're working with inheritance and expect subclasses to behave differently than the parent. It's especially useful in things like event handlers, frameworks, or anything plugin-based.
But there are times to avoid it:
- If the parent method is marked as
final
orsealed
, overriding won't work. - Don't override just to add unrelated behavior — that can confuse others reading your code.
- If the method signature doesn't match exactly, you're not overriding — you're overloading or hiding, which can lead to bugs.
A few gotchas to watch for
Some common issues pop up when people start overriding methods:
- Accidentally changing the method signature and ending up with an overloaded method instead of an overridden one.
- Forgetting to call the parent method when you meant to extend it rather than completely replace it — in that case, use
super()
or equivalent. - Using private methods in parent classes — those can't be overridden because they aren't visible to subclasses.
It's also worth noting that not all languages ??handle overriding the same way. So always check how your specific language works — Python is pretty forgiving, while Java and C# are stricter about matching signatures.
Basically that's it.
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