Difference between super(variableName) ; and super.variableName

What is the Difference between super(variable-name); and super.variableName = something; in a constructor, when you want to initialize the parameters and you wanna assign one of them to a variable of a parent class?

super(variable-name);

super.variableName = something;

for example i want to implement the constructor of the "Zahnradfraese" and it takes the parameter "int Kennung" and this parameter should be assigned to the attribute "kennung" of the parent class "Produktionmittel"

Should I always use super when I wanna call a variable from this parent class or I just use it if I have another variable with the same name in the child class?

super.setKennung(kennung)

Zahnradfraese

5 Answers
5

super(variable_name) represents a constructor call and should be first line in the constructor. Whereas super.variableName = something; means you are assigning a value to the instance variable of the parent class from the child class using super which is used to refer parent class objects.

super(variable_name)

super.variableName = something;

super

Now in your case: as per given class-diagram
the class Zahnradfraese has a constructor which takes int Kennung argument. Also, kennung is the parent-class and has no constructor and instead it has method setKennung(). So you can do super.setKennung(kennung) from inside the constructor of Zahnradfraese class. You can also declare a constructor inside kennung but that would mean deviating from the class-diagram which has setter and getter methods and no constructor.

Zahnradfraese

int Kennung

kennung

setKennung()

super.setKennung(kennung)

Zahnradfraese

kennung

public class Zahnradfraese extends Kennung
public Zahnradfraese(int kennung)
super.setKennung(kennung);




What is the difference between super(variableName); and super.variableName = something;?

super(variableName);

super.variableName = something;

method() (here, super(variableName)) is a method invocation (here, a parent's constructor invocation).

method()

super(variableName)

super.variableName = something; is an assignment to a parent's field.

super.variableName = something;

Should I always use super when I wanna call a variable from this parent class or I just use it if I have another variable with the same name in the child class?

super

super(variableName) can initialise the inner state of the parent, particularly super.variableName. It is reasonable to initialise a super.variableName before accessing it. Both ways you listed can be utilised for that. Just make sure there is no code duplication.

super(variableName)

super.variableName

super.variableName

I want to implement the constructor of the Zahnradfraese and it takes the parameter int Kennung and this parameter should be assigned to the attribute kennung of the parent class Produktionmittel.

Zahnradfraese

int Kennung

kennung

Produktionmittel

Add a constructor to Produktionmittel which takes an int

Produktionmittel

int

public Produktionmittel(int i)
kennung = i;



and call it from the child:

public Zahnradfraese(int kennung)
super(kennung);



super.variable = value;

So super(variableName) is invoking your parent class one arg constructor, and that logic gets executes

super(variableName)

super.variableName = something; is assigning something value to parent class variable variableName

super.variableName = something;

something

variableName

super() is a keyword which is used to call the constructor in the parent class and it must be called from inside the constructor of the child class. Also it must be the first statement.

super()

Where as super.s is used to set the variable s (which is declared in the parent class) from the child class and it doesn't have restrictions as above.

super.s

s

See below example:

class Test
int s;

Test(int d)



class T extends Test
T()
super(8);
int d = 99;
super.s = 00;


void ss()
super.s = 99;




Test

super(arg) invokes the constructor of the super class, setting the variable just sets the variable. (The constructor might contain more logic than just assigning a variable, which you bypass with the second way)

Simple example:

public class P
protected String variable1;
private boolean variableInitialized = false;

public P (String s)
this.variable1 = s;
this.variableInitialized=true;



public class C extends P




calling super("x") within C will also set the boolean flag, as the parent class "might expect" it. Calling super.variable1="x" will not affect the boolean flag, and you can't change it, cause it's private.

super("x")

C

super.variable1="x"

As a rule of the thumb i'd say: If there is a dedicated constructor for a certain variable, it seems worth using it, unless you exactly want to override that implementation.

Thanks for contributing an answer to Stack Overflow!

But avoid …

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

Required, but never shown

Required, but never shown

By clicking "Post Your Answer", you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy