java - Why am I able to access child methods in the parent class? -

java - Why am I able to access child methods in the parent class? -

i have problem understanding of inheritance in java: able access overwritten methods of kid class when cast parent class.

as illustration there given 2 next classes:

the parent one:

public class parent { public void whatareyou() { system.out.println("parent"); } }

and kid class:

public class kid extends parent { @override public void whatareyou() { system.out.println("child"); } public void onlychildrencandothis() { //... } }

when following:

kid c = new child(); parent p = c; p.whatareyou();

i output:

child

this unusual understanding of inheritance in java. expect parent output, because narrowed kid class parent class, , should have access variables , methods of parent class.

this working p.onlychildrencandothis(), cannot access it, because not implemented in parent class...

...but overwritten methods java not behaving way! why that?

here's have done

child c = new child();

you created object of kid class , assigned reference c.

parent p = c;

here have copied reference of kid object p. remember object still child's object not parents's object.

p.whatareyou();

here have called whatareyou method. calling using reference variable p pointing object of child. hence child's method called.

another interpretation

java inheritance