February 2001

Slide #38

Overridden Methods

A subclass can define a method that has the same name as one in its superclass

        package UnmarriedPerson;
        use base 'Person';

        sub spouse {
          shift;
          if (@_) {
            croak "Cannot set spouse for UnmarriedPerson object";
          }
          return undef;
        }

In this case the method is overridden

        my $QEI = UnmarriedPerson->new;
        $QEI->spouse($phil2);   # croaks

UnmarriedPerson::spouse is called
Person::spouse is not called