Can overridden methods differ in return type?

Question

Can overridden methods have different return types?

Answer 1

Yes. It is possible for overridden methods to have different return type .

But the limitations are that the overridden method must have a return type that is more specific type of the return type of the actual method.

All the answers have given examples of the overridden method to have a return type which is a subclass of the return type of the actual method.

For example :

public class Foo{

   //method which returns Foo
  Foo getFoo(){
      //your code         
  }

}

 public class subFoo extends Foo{

  //Overridden method which returns subclass of Foo
  @Override
  subFoo getFoo(){
      //your code         
  }

}

But this is not only limited to subclass.Even classes that implement an interface are a specific type of the interface and thus can be a return type where the interface is expected.

For example :

public interface Foo{

   //method which returns Foo
  Foo getFoo();

}

 public class Fizz implements Foo{

  //Overridden method which returns Fizz(as it implements Foo)
  @Override
  Fizz getFoo(){
      //your code         
  }

}