Java FAQ: Top Questions

Method overriding and method overloading are two forms of polymorphism in Java, but they serve different purposes.

• Method Overriding:
  • Occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation for a method already defined in its superclass.
  • The method in the subclass must have the same name, return type (or covariant), and parameter list.
  • Uses the @Override annotation to ensure correctness.
  • Enables runtime polymorphism (dynamic method dispatch).
• Method Overloading:
  • Occurs when multiple methods in the same class have the same name but different parameter lists (number, type, or order).
  • Resolved at compile-time (static polymorphism).
  • Return type alone cannot differentiate overloaded methods.