Parameterizing superclass method and non-parameterized (concrete type) method in subclass

Question

I have an abstract superclass ValueType and two non-abstract subclasses IntType and DoubleType . How can define types in the superclass method like following

public abstract class ValueType {
    public abstract <T extends ValueType> T add(T other);
}

that I allows to write concrete types (eg public IntType add(IntType other) or DoubleType add(DoubleType other) ) in subclass method

public class IntType extends ValueType {

private int val;

public IntType(int val){
    this.val = val;
}

public int getVal(){
    return this.val;
}

@Override
public IntType add(IntType other) {
    return new IntType(this.val + other.getVal());
}

public class DoubleType extends ValueType {

private double val;

public DoubleType(double val){
    this.val = val;
}

public double getVal(){
    return this.val;
}

@Override
public DoubleType add(DoubleType other) {
    return new DoubleType(this.val + other.getVal());
}

In the above example, the subclass method does not override the superclass method.

Answer 1

Make the abstract class generic itself, not only its method.

Elevate the generic type <T extends ValueType> as a class generic parameter. Note with this action the class ValueType becomes also generic, therefore <T extends ValueType<T>> takes the place to avoid raw types:

public abstract class ValueType<T extends ValueType<T>> {
    public abstract T add(T other);
}

Then the concrete child class extends from a generic class and is forced to override the abstract method (private fields, getters and setters omitted):

public class IntType extends ValueType<IntType> {

    @Override
    public IntType add(IntType other) {
        return new IntType(this.val + other.getVal());
    }
}

public class DoubleType extends ValueType<DoubleType> {

    @Override
    public DoubleType add(DoubleType other) {
        return new DoubleType(this.val + other.getVal());
    }
}

By the way, you have two typos:

• return new IntType(this.value + other.getVal()); should use this.val .
• return new DoubleType(this.value + other.getVal()); should use this.val as well.