Overloading vs Overriding

Java permits a class to replace (or override) a method that it has it has inherited. A subclass can define a method with the SAME signature as a superclass method.

Overloading

Two methods have the same name but DIFFERENT signatures -- the parameter types and/or number of parameters are different.

public StringBuilder append (int a);
public StringBuilder append (String s);
public StringBuilder append (int a, int b);

Overriding

A method in the subclass has the SAME signature as a method in the superclass.

Calling An Overridden Method Within a subclass definition, you can call the superclass method with the “super” reference.

public class HourlyWorker extends Employee {
 public String toString()
 {
    //explicitly calls Employee’s toString method return super.toString() + “Hours: “ + hours + “ Rate: “ + rate;
 
 }
 }