An identical method is not a problem in multiple interfaces, but what if the method differs by signature or return type? Here’s an example:
// interfaces/InterfaceCollision.java
// (c)2017 MindView LLC: see Copyright.txt
// We make no guarantees that this code is fit for any purpose.
// Visit http://OnJava8.com for more book information.
interface I1 {
void f();
}
interface I2 {
int f(int i);
}
interface I3 {
int f();
}
class C {
public int f() {
return 1;
}
}
class C2 implements I1, I2 {
@Override
public void f() {}
@Override
public int f(int i) {
return 1;
} // overloaded
}
class C3 extends C implements I2 {
@Override
public int f(int i) {
return 1;
} // overloaded
}
class C4 extends C implements I3 {
// Identical, no problem:
@Override
public int f() {
return 1;
}
}
// Methods differ only by return type:
// - class C5 extends C implements I1 {} // [1]
// - interface I4 extends I1, I3 {} // [2]
After uncomment [1] and [2], we use
$ javac interfaces/InterfaceCollision
the compile error is:
javac: invalid flag: interfaces/InterfaceCollision
Usage: javac <options> <source files>
use -help for a list of possible options
when we use
$ javac interfaces.InterfaceCollision
the compile error is:
error: Class names, 'interfaces.InterfaceCollision', are only accepted if annotation processing is explicitly requested
1 error
The solution is to use
$ javac interfaces/InterfaceCollision.java
My error message is:
interfaces/InterfaceCollision.java:50: error: C5 is not abstract and does not override abstract method f() in I1
class C5 extends C implements I1 {}
^
interfaces/InterfaceCollision.java:52: error: types I3 and I1 are incompatible; both define f(), but with unrelated return
types
interface I4 extends I1, I3 {}
^
2 errors
Using the same method names in different interfaces when you expect those interface to be combined generally causes confusion in the readability of the code. Strive to avoid it.
references:
1. On Java 8 - Bruce Eckel
2. https://github.com/wangbingfeng/OnJava8-Examples/blob/master/interfaces/InterfaceCollision.java