Subtyping

A value of a subtype can be substituted for a value of a supertype.

Related concepts:  TypePolymorphismInheritance

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Subtyping

Misconceptions about Subtyping

11 documented Misconceptions

CallNotStaticallyChecked — Java

A method invocation on a reference of a type that does not have that method won't compile

ConcreteClassOnlyImplementClassAbstract — Java

A concrete class only needs to implement those abstract methods it inherits from abstract superclasses

ConcreteClassOnlyImplementDirectAbstract — Java

A concrete class only needs to implement abstract methods declared in its direct supertypes

ConcreteClassOnlyImplementInterfaceAbstract — Java

A concrete class only needs to implement those abstract methods it inherits from interfaces

ExceptionRoot — Java

Exception is the top-most exception class

InterfaceExtendClass — Java

An interface can extend a class

MultipleSuperclasses — Java

A class can have multiple superclasses

RuntimeExceptionChecked — Java

RuntimeExceptions are checked exceptions

StaticDispatch — Java

The method to be called is determined by the static type

SubtypeCompatibleWithSupertype — Java

A variable of a subtype can reference an object of a supertype

SupertypeIncompatibleWithSubtype — Java

A variable of a supertype cannot reference an object of a subtype