Explicitly calling a default method in Java

Question

Java 8 introduces default methods to provide the ability to extend interfaces without the need to modify existing implementations.

I wonder if it's possible to explicitly invoke the default implementation of a method when that method has been overridden or is not available because of conflicting default implementations in different interfaces.

interface A {
    default void foo() {
        System.out.println("A.foo");
    }
}

class B implements A {
    @Override
    public void foo() {
        System.out.println("B.foo");
    }
    public void afoo() {
        // how to invoke A.foo() here?
    }
}

Considering the code above, how would you call A.foo() from a method of class B?

Answer 1

As per this article you access default method in interface A using

A.super.foo();

This could be used as follows (assuming interfaces A and C both have default methods foo())

public class ChildClass implements A, C {
    @Override    
    public void foo() {
       //you could completely override the default implementations
       doSomethingElse();
       //or manage conflicts between the same method foo() in both A and C
       A.super.foo();
    }
    public void bah() {
       A.super.foo(); //original foo() from A accessed
       C.super.foo(); //original foo() from C accessed
    }
}

A and C can both have .foo() methods and the specific default implementation can be chosen or you can use one (or both) as part of your new foo() method. You can also use the same syntax to access the default versions in other methods in your implementing class.

Formal description of the method invocation syntax can be found in the chapter 15 of the JLS.