Java vs C# method/function return-type overriding?

Question

Is there a difference in the way Java and C# evaluate method/function signatures to perform overriding? In Java two methods in the child and parent, with same name and parameters, but different return types is an error- whereas in C# it compiles fine.

Am I right in thinking C# views this as overloading whereas Java attempts overriding but only allows overriding of same return types?

Answer 1

you got an error in Java because the return type should be compatible with original return type.

the return type is not part of signature. however, when you override a method you should keep the return type compatible, before Java 5 the return type must be identical .

but now (Java 5+) you can return subclass of the original type, this called Covariant return type.