Difference between new and override

Question

Wondering what the difference is between the following:

Case 1: Base Class

public void DoIt();

Case 1: Inherited class

public new void DoIt();

Case 2: Base Class

public virtual void DoIt();

Case 2: Inherited class

public override void DoIt();

Both case 1 and 2 appear to have the same effect based on the tests I have run. Is there a difference, or a preferred way?

Answer 1

The override modifier may be used on virtual methods and must be used on abstract methods. This indicates for the compiler to use the last defined implementation of a method. Even if the method is called on a reference to the base class it will use the implementation overriding it.

public class Base
{
    public virtual void DoIt()
    {
    }
}

public class Derived : Base
{
    public override void DoIt()
    {
    }
}

Base b = new Derived();
b.DoIt();                      // Calls Derived.DoIt

will call Derived.DoIt if that overrides Base.DoIt.

The new modifier instructs the compiler to use your child class implementation instead of the parent class implementation. Any code that is not referencing your class but the parent class will use the parent class implementation.

public class Base
{
    public virtual void DoIt()
    {
    }
}

public class Derived : Base
{
    public new void DoIt()
    {
    }
}

Base b = new Derived();
Derived d = new Derived();

b.DoIt();                      // Calls Base.DoIt
d.DoIt();                      // Calls Derived.DoIt

Will first call Base.DoIt, then Derived.DoIt. They're effectively two entirely separate methods which happen to have the same name, rather than the derived method overriding the base method.

Source: Microsoft blog