Override member data in subclass, use in superclass implementation?

Question

In Java, is it possible to override member data in a subclass and have that overridden version be the data used in a super class\'s implementation?

In other words, here\

Answer 1

I believe you must interpose an accessor method, i.e., use:

    for(String p : getStuff()) { 

in the superclass, and add:

    protected String[] getStuff() { return stuff; }

wherever you have a protected String[] stuff redefinition.

Overriding really applies to methods, not data (at least, that is so in the Java model; some other languages do things differently), and so to get the override effect you must interpose a method (typically a dirt-simple accessor, like here). It doesn't really complicate things at all, it's just a very simple way to instruct the Java compiler to use, intrinsically, the "extra level of indirection" that your desired behavior requires.