Do Java Subclasses Inherit Static Methods?

Static Method Inheritance in Java: Clarifying the Book's Explanation

Despite the assertion in the book that static methods are not inherited, Java allows subclasses to inherit all accessible methods, including static ones. The example provided in the question exemplifies this behavior, as the static method display() is accessible in the subclass B without the use of super.

This inheritance stems from the fundamental rule of Java inheritance, which states that a subclass inherits all public, protected, and (within the same package) package-private members of its superclass. The distinction lies in how static and non-static methods interact with newly defined methods in subclasses.

When a subclass defines a new non-static method with the same signature as an inherited one, it overrides the parent's method. However, with static methods, defining a new method in the subclass only hides the parent's method. This is because static methods are bound to the class itself, while non-static methods are associated with instances of the class.

Therefore, the book's explanation primarily pertains to non-static methods, which inherit accessibility according to their declared visibility (public, protected, or package-private). Static methods, on the other hand, adhere to the broader rule of inheritance and are available to subclasses as long as they are accessible.

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