- Interfaces:
This is a flagging annotation which is attached to a method to indicate that it overrides a method in the super class. When the compiler encounters this, it makes sure that it actually overrides a method. If it does not then a compilation error occurs. Using this all the time is recommended when a method is intended to be overidden. As an example, if the base class has the following method: {@code public static int foo(long __a); } And a class which extends the base class has the following method: {@code public static int foo(int __a); } If it is intended to add a new {@code foo} which handles {@code int} instead of {@code long} then this annotation should not be used, however it it is intended to replace it (and specifying {@code int} was a mistake) then this should be used.