Is it possible to overload the main methode in java?

Answer 1

Yes. The main method can be overloaded just like any other method in Java.

The usual declaration for main is: public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception; When you launch a java application it looks for a static method with the name 'main', return type 'void' and a single argument of an array of Strings. ie what you throw is unimportant in resolving this method. Overloading is providing multiple methods with the same name but different arguments (and potentially return type). The following class is valid: public class Test { public static void main(Object[] o) { } public static boolean main(String[] o) { } } But when run will result in the error: Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: main Since the methods present does not have the correct signature.(The main method with the void return type is missing. Without it the code cannot be executed by the JVM)

Overloading is sometimes confused with overriding. Overriding is changing the behavior of a method in a subclass. This is not allowed on a main method because main must be static and is therefore bound at compile time, not run time, e.g., the program: class A { static String foo() { return "A"; } } class B extends A { static String foo() { return "B"; } } public class Test { public static void main(String[] args) { A a = new B(); System.out.println(a.foo()); System.out.println(((B)a).foo()); } } Prints: A B This is why it is generally discouraged from calling static methods on instance variables. You should always write A.foo() or B.foo() as this reminds you that there is no polymorphic behavior occurring.

Answer 2

Yes