class X
{
protected static void st()
{
System.out.println("X");
}
}

class Y extends X
{
public static void st() //It's not giving any error
{
System.out.println("Y");
}
}

I thought hiding a static method means you should keep the exact signature.

Put it simple:
1. OVERLOADING - the same method name, different agrement list and/or return type. Overloading just with a different return type is illegal.
2. OVERRIDING - re-rwite the parent class's method signature exactly.
3. Method access modifiers when overriding can NOT be more private.
4. Exceptions thrown in overidden methods can NOT be more restrictive or can not throw checked exceptions of classes which are not part of the orginial method.

Hope this helps

[This message has been edited by monty (edited March 03, 2000).]

Ramana said:
1. Any static method must be overridden by only a static method. A static method cannot be overidden as non static. In the same way, a non static method cannot be overridden as a static one.

But I thought static methods could not be overridden. [But they can be hidden, right?]

Uma asked:
Joe, if accessiblity modifier is not part of the method signature howcome it's giving me the error if i changed the modifier from protected(superclass) to private in the subclass.

Seems like a good question. Why should the compiler care one way or the other? If the methods are static there is no polymorphism involved in the method calls. It doesn't seem like there is a reason for that restriction. Can someone clarify this for me?!?!