Tutorials References Exercises Videos Menu
Free Website Get Certified Pro

Java Tutorial

Java HOME Java Intro Java Get Started Java Syntax Java Output Java Comments Java Variables Java Data Types Java Type Casting Java Operators Java Strings Java Math Java Booleans Java If...Else Java Switch Java While Loop Java For Loop Java Break/Continue Java Arrays

Java Methods

Java Methods Java Method Parameters Java Method Overloading Java Scope Java Recursion

Java Classes

Java OOP Java Classes/Objects Java Class Attributes Java Class Methods Java Constructors Java Modifiers Java Encapsulation Java Packages / API Java Inheritance Java Polymorphism Java Inner Classes Java Abstraction Java Interface Java Enums Java User Input Java Date Java ArrayList Java LinkedList Java HashMap Java HashSet Java Iterator Java Wrapper Classes Java Exceptions Java RegEx Java Threads Java Lambda

Java File Handling

Java Files Java Create/Write Files Java Read Files Java Delete Files

Java How To

Add Two Numbers

Java Reference

Java Keywords Java String Methods Java Math Methods

Java Examples

Java Examples Java Compiler Java Exercises Java Quiz Java Certificate


Java super Keyword

❮ Java Keywords


Example

Using super to call the superclass of Dog (subclass):

class Animal { // Superclass (parent)
  public void animalSound() {
    System.out.println("The animal makes a sound");
  }
}

class Dog extends Animal { // Subclass (child)
  public void animalSound() {
    super.animalSound(); // Call the superclass method
    System.out.println("The dog says: bow wow");
  }
}

public class Main {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    Animal myDog = new Dog(); // Create a Dog object
    myDog.animalSound(); // Call the method on the Dog object
  }
}

Try it Yourself »


Definition and Usage

The super keyword refers to superclass (parent) objects.

It is used to call superclass methods, and to access the superclass constructor.

The most common use of the super keyword is to eliminate the confusion between superclasses and subclasses that have methods with the same name.

To understand the super keyword, you should have a basic understanding of Inheritance and Polymorphism.


Related Pages

Read more about inheritance (subclasses and superclasses) in our Java Inheritance Tutorial.

Read more about polymorphism in our Java Polymorphism Tutorial.


❮ Java Keywords