When do you use Java's @Override annotation and why?

The @Override annotation in Java is used to indicate that a method is intended to override a method declared in a superclass or interface.

Here's an example of how you can use the @Override annotation:

public class MyClass extends SomeClass {
  @Override
  public void someMethod() {
    // method implementation
  }
}

Using the @Override annotation has several benefits:

  1. It makes it easier to see which methods in a subclass are intended to override superclass methods, as the @Override annotation makes the intention explicit.

  2. It helps to catch errors at compile time if you have made a mistake in the method signature of the overriding method. For example, if you have mistyped the method name or the number or type of arguments, the compiler will generate an error.

  3. It can make your code easier to understand and maintain, as it clearly indicates the relationships between methods in different classes.

Note that the @Override annotation is only applicable to methods, and it cannot be used with variables or constructors.

It is generally a good practice to use the @Override annotation whenever you are overriding a superclass or interface method, as it can help to prevent mistakes and make your code more readable and maintainable.