if overridden method's return type is primitive (e.g. double) ,can we change return type of overriding method (e.g. int ,char)?

Question

As shown below :

Method to be overriden:

double add (int a ,int b){  

} 

Method overridding above method:

int add(int a,int b){

}  

Answer 1

With primitive types it is not possible, but there is a feature added to JDK 1.5 called covariant return types. So, using this feature, a subclass could return a more specific type than the one declared on the parent class.

The following code compiles fine in JDK 1.7

public static class A {
   Number go() { return 0; };
}

public static class B extends A {
  @Override
  Integer go() { return 0; }
}

See JLS Example 8.4.8.3-1. Covariant Return Types

Answer 2

No, you cannot change the return type. You can overload a method by providing alternate or additional input.

i.e.

int add(int a, int b, int c)