Is "Indirect Overriding" of static methods possible in Java?

Question

We can't override a static method (at least in Java).

If I want to override an inherited static method, can I do it via a nested call to a non-static method of the parent class which I have overriden?

class A {
.
.
static func(args) {..M(args)..}
.
.
<Type> M(args) {...}
.
.
}

class B extends A {
.
.
@Override
<Type> M(args) {...}
.
.
}

Or, will this code be able to change the functionality of func?

Answer 1

This is where it breaks:

I have defined the static method of A with the help of a nested call to M.

You can’t call a non-static method from a static method.

If I understand you correctly, you wanted to do something like:

public class A {
    public static void staticMethod() {
        m();
    }
    public void m() {
        // do something here or leave it to the subclasses
    }
}

In my Eclipse, at the call to m() I get

Cannot make a static reference to the non-static method m() from the type A

To call a non-static method you need an instance to call it on. For example, to ask a person’s name you first need a person object, or the question won’t make sense. In a static context you haven’t got any instance.

Of course, if you can set up a situation where inside staticMethod you have got an instance of either B or C, you’re there. Then you can just call myInstanceOfBOrC.m().

The usual solution to what I think you were after is to make an instance of either B or C from the outset and not declare the method static. Then use usual overriding. It may feel like a waste to create an instance for this purpose alone; but it works.