Java overloading method selection

Question

I\'m trying to get my head round how Java selects which method is executed:

//Example 1 prints Square:add(Figure)
Figure fs = new Square();
fs.add(fs);

//Ex         


        

Answer 1

rs.add(new Square());

The declared type of rs is Rectangle. So it looks at a method in Rectangle and all superclasses taking a Square or a type compatible with Square as argument. The most specific one is add(Rectangle) since Square is a Rectangle, and since Rectangle is more specific than Figure.

Square ss = new Square();
ss.add(rs);

Looks for a method add(Rectangle) in Square and all super-classes. Rectangle.add(Rectangle) is chosen, since Square.add(Square) doesn't apply (a Rectangle is not a Square), and Square.add(Figure) is less specific.