Problem to override a public static variable

Question

Hello,
I have a problem when trying to override a public static value.
Here is my example.
I have one class defining var szName
public class myClass1 {
public static String szName = "First Name";
And an extention
public class myClass2 extends myClass1{
public static String szName = "F. N.";
In my main class if I do:
myClass2 myObject = new myClass2();
System.out.println("szName = " + myObject.szName);
I get "szName = First Name" instead of "szName = F. N."
Can somebody explain me what is wrong?
Thanks in advance.
Alain.

Answer 1

You can only override non-private, non-static, methods. Other stuff may be hidden or shadowed, but not overridden.
For anthing other than a non-private, non-static method, it's the compile-time type of the reference, not the runtime class of the object, that determines which class' version gets used.
The code you provided prints F.N, not First Name as you state. I assume you meant this line myClass2 myObject = new myClass2();to look like this
myClass1 myObject = new myClass2();If you had done that, then you'd have seen First Name, becuase myClass1 is of type myObjecdt1, and the compiler doesn't even see what's on the RHS of equals for this.