Can we override the constructor in java?

In Java, constructors cannot be overridden in the traditional sense like methods. When you define a constructor in a subclass, it does not override the constructor of the superclass. However, there are ways to call constructors of the superclass and reuse their code in the subclass using the super keyword.

Calling Superclass Constructors:

1. Using super() to Call Parameterized Constructor of Superclass:

/*
 * Author: Zameer Ali
 * */

public class Subclass extends Superclass {
    public Subclass(int parameter) {
        super(parameter); // Calls the parameterized constructor of the superclass
        // Subclass-specific code here
    }
}

Using super to Call No-Argument Constructor of Superclass:

/*
 * Author: Zameer Ali
 * */

public class Subclass extends Superclass {
    public Subclass() {
        super(); // Calls the no-argument constructor of the superclass
        // Subclass-specific code here
    }
}

In the examples above, super() is used to call the constructor of the superclass. This allows you to initialize the fields of the superclass in the subclass constructor.

Remember, if you don’t explicitly call a superclass constructor using super(), Java will automatically insert a call to the no-argument constructor of the superclass. If the superclass does not have a no-argument constructor (i.e., it only has parameterized constructors), and you don’t provide an explicit call to one of the superclass constructors, the Java compiler will throw an error.

Also, note that constructors are not inherited, so you cannot directly override them. But you can provide your own constructors in the subclass and choose to call appropriate superclass constructors using super(). This allows you to reuse the initialization logic of the superclass in the subclass constructors.