Two methods with the same name in java

Question

I noticed that if I have two methods with the same name, the first one accepts SomeObject and the second one accepts an object extending SomeObject when I call the method with SomeOtherObject, it automatically uses the one that only accepts SomeObject. If I cast SomeOtherObject to SomeObject, the method that accepts SomeObject is used, even if the object is an instanceof SomeOtherObject. This means the method is selected when compiling. Why?

Answer 1

That's how method overload resolution in Java works: the method is selected at compile time.

For all of the ugly details, see the Java Language Specification §15.12.