super keyword

Super keyword in java is a reference variable that is used to refer parent class object. Super is an implicit keyword create by JVM and supply each and every java program for performing important role in three places.

• At variable level
• At method level
• At constructor level

Need of super keyword:

Whenever the derived class is inherits the base class features, there is a possibility that base class features are similar to derived class features and JVM gets an ambiguity. In order to differentiate between base class features and derived class features must be preceded by super keyword.

Syntax

 
super.baseclass features.

Super at variable level:

Whenever the derived class inherit base class data members there is a possibility that base class data member are similar to derived class data member and JVM gets an ambiguity.

In order to differentiate between the data member of base class and derived class, in the context of derived class the base class data members must be preceded by super keyword.

Syntax

 
super.baseclass datamember name

if we are not writing super keyword before the base class data member name than it will be referred as current class data member name and base class data member are hidden in the context of derived class.

Program without using super keyword

Example

class Employee
{
float salary=10000;
}
class HR extends Employee
{
float salary=20000;
void display()
{
System.out.println("Salary: "+salary);//print current class salary
}
}
class Supervarible
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
HR obj=new HR();
obj.display();
}
}

Output

 
Salary: 20000.0

In the above program in Employee and HR class salary is common properties of both class the instance of current or derived class is referred by instance by default but here we want to refer base class instance variable that is why we use super keyword to distinguish between parent or base class instance variable and current or derived class instance variable.

Program using super keyword al variable level

Example

class Employee
{
float salary=10000;
}
class HR extends Employee
{
float salary=20000;
void display()
{
System.out.println("Salary: "+super.salary);//print base class salary
}
}
class Supervarible
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
HR obj=new HR();
obj.display();
}
}

Output

 
Salary: 10000.0

Super at method level

The super keyword can also be used to invoke or call parent class method. It should be use in case of method overriding. In other word super keyword use when base class method name and derived class method name have same name.

Example of super keyword at method level

Example

class Student
{  
void message()
{
System.out.println("Good Morning Sir");
}
}  
  
class Faculty extends Student
{  
void message()
{
System.out.println("Good Morning Students");
}
  
void display()
{  
message();//will invoke or call current class message() method  
super.message();//will invoke or call parent class message() method  
}  
  
public static void main(String args[])
{  
Student s=new Student();  
s.display();  
}
}

Output

 
Good Morning Students
Good Morning Sir

In the above example Student and Faculty both classes have message() method if we call message() method from Student class, it will call the message() method of Student class not of Person class because priority of local is high.

In case there is no method in subclass as parent, there is no need to use super. In the example given below message() method is invoked from Student class but Student class does not have message() method, so you can directly call message() method.

Program where super is not required

Example

class Student
{  
void message()
{
System.out.println("Good Morning Sir");
}
}  
  
class Faculty extends Student
{  

void display()
{  
message();//will invoke or call parent class message() method  
}
 
public static void main(String args[])
{  
Student s=new Student();  
s.display();  
}
}

Output

 
Good Morning Sir