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Missing Override annotation — CodeQL query help documentation

ID: java/missing-override-annotation
Kind: problem
Security severity: 
Severity: recommendation
Precision: high
Tags:
   - quality
   - maintainability
   - readability
Query suites:
   - java-code-quality.qls
   - java-security-and-quality.qls

Click to see the query in the CodeQL repository

Java enables you to annotate methods that are intended to override a method in a superclass. Compilers are required to generate an error if such an annotated method does not override a method in a superclass, which provides increased protection from potential defects. An annotated method also improves code readability.

Recommendation

Add an @Override annotation to a method that is intended to override a method in a superclass.

Example

In the following example, Triangle.getArea overrides Rectangle.getArea, so it is annotated with @Override.

class Rectangle
{
    private int w = 10, h = 10;
    public int getArea() { 
        return w * h; 
    }
}
 
class Triangle extends Rectangle
{
    @Override  // Annotation of an overriding method 
    public int getArea() { 
        return super.getArea() / 2; 
    }
}

References