CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javainheritanceconstructorsuper
Mona Dhar
Mona Dhar

Reputation: 159

In java can super() be used to call any parent method or just the parent constructor

Is it possible to call any parent class methods using super() from child class method or super is used just for calling parent constructor

Upvotes: 4

Views: 3859

Answers (2)

Jagadish Sharma U
Jagadish Sharma U

Reputation: 496

Usage of Super keyword:

  1. super()-only the super as a constructor call will call the super class default constructor
  2. super(parameters)- calls only the parameterised constructors of its parent class.
  3. super.methodName() - calls the method of its parent class chain provided the method visibility is either public or protected.
  4. If a subclass constructor invokes a constructor of its superclass, either explicitly or implicitly, you might think that there will be a whole chain of constructors called, all the way back to the constructor of Object. In fact, this is the case. It is called constructor chaining, and you need to be aware of it when there is a long line of class descent

Hope this helps!

Upvotes: 0

Codebender
Codebender

Reputation: 14471

For calling methods the syntax is super.methodName(). Just super() will call the constructor.

It's very similar to this keyword but for parent.

this() calls this classes constructor from another constructor. super() calls the parents constructor from childs constructor.

this.methodName() calls the method of the current class, super.methodName() calls the method of parent class.

EDIT: As @harry has mentioned in the comment, the parent's method should be visible to the child to actually be able to use super.methodName(). Private methods in the parent cannot be accessed.

Upvotes: 8

Related Questions