How can I override protected methods in Java?

How can I override protected methods in Java?

In Java, you can override protected methods in a subclass. This allows you to provide a specific implementation.

Can you give me an example of overriding a protected method?

Sure! If you have a class Animal with a protected method makeSound(), you can override it in a subclass Dog like this:

class Animal {
    protected void makeSound() {
        System.out.println("Animal sound");
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    @Override
    protected void makeSound() {
        System.out.println("Bark");
    }
}

This way, when you call makeSound() on a Dog object, it will output "Bark".

Are there any restrictions when overriding protected methods?

Yes, when overriding protected methods, the overriding method must have the same return type or a subtype, and it cannot be more restrictive in access level.

What happens if I try to override a private method?

You cannot override a private method because it is not visible to subclasses. Private methods are only accessible within the class they are defined.