"to override"

[Stefan Ram]

Is it true that the meanings of »override« and »overwrite«
do overlap somewhat?

How could the meaning of »override« have developed, since
»to ride« actually means something one does with a horse?

 

[Arne Vajhøj]

Is it true that the meanings of »override« and »overwrite«
do overlap somewhat?

I don't think so.

Override is a commonly used term for subclasses providing a new
implementation for a method.

Overwrite is commonly used for files, but for methods I would
be puzzled about what "overwriting a method" actually meant - it could
mean override, but I would start to suspect some advanced byte code
manipulation actually replacing the code of a method.

A bit of googling indicate that using overwrite for override
is a German language thingy.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120324072506AANp0CA

I don't know if that is true.

How could the meaning of »override« have developed, since
»to ride« actually means something one does with a horse?

I think "override method" and "manual override", "override decision"
etc. match pretty well in meaning.

Arne

 

[markspace]

Is it true that the meanings of »override« and »overwrite«
do overlap somewhat?

No, not at all.

How could the meaning of »override« have developed, since
»to ride« actually means something one does with a horse?

Over-ride, like what you do to a speed bump with your four-wheel drive
pickup.

That is you completely cover, obscure, or control something. Arne
pointed out "manual override" which was a very good example. The manual
override replaces all previous system inputs with manual ones,
completely covering the inputs with new, manual ones. A full override.

Over-write means something that is written, like a manuscript. Like in
the middle ages when they scraped off old text and replaced it with new
text to save paper (or parchment). Literally they wrote on top of the
old text.

(Note: dashes '-' in override and overwrite just to make it 100% clear
where I'm breaking the words up. They are properly written without the
dash.)

 

[Eric Sosman]

Is it true that the meanings of »override« and »overwrite«
do overlap somewhat?

How could the meaning of »override« have developed, since
»to ride« actually means something one does with a horse?

There was a time, long ago, when every student of whatever
topic owned a book called a "dictionary." (Nowadays -- meh.)

The dictionary I took to college offers these definitions:

over-ride vt 1: to ride over or across : TRAMPLE
2 : to ride (as a horse) too much or too hard
3 a : to prevail over : DOMINATE b : to set aside : ANNUL
4 : to extend or pass over; esp : OVERLAP

over-write vt 1: to write over the surface of
2 : to write in inflated or pretentious style
~ vi : to write too much

This 1965 dictionary's definitions are largely uninfluenced
by the specialized meanings computerdom attached to words it
co-opted. In computer parlance, "overwrite" usually has its
first definition, with possibly a touch of the intransitive
definition when a write strays beyond the bounds of its supposed
target. The O-O term "override" can be seen as an adaptation of
either or both of the 3a and 4 definitions, with perhaps a touch
of 1 when a constructor foolishly calls a method overridden in
a subclass.

(P.S.: My dictionary can be held in one hand; you'll probably
find lots more information in a more complete work. Last time it
was printed, the Oxford English Dictionary ran to thirteen volumes.
It's available on-line for paying subscribers, or for anyone who'd
prefer not to carry thirteen volumes around ...)

 

[Joerg Meier]

I don't think so.

Override is a commonly used term for subclasses providing a new
implementation for a method.

Overwrite is commonly used for files, but for methods I would
be puzzled about what "overwriting a method" actually meant - it could
mean override, but I would start to suspect some advanced byte code
manipulation actually replacing the code of a method.

I would also use overwrite in the context of assigning a new value to
(primitive) variable, which overwrites the existing value, as well as in
various hardware related aspects (such as overwriting a shader program or
overwriting a graphics buffer).

A bit of googling indicate that using overwrite for override
is a German language thingy.

I don't know if that is true.

As a German, born and raised, I can confirm that both words typically
translate to the same German word ("Überschreiben", if you will forgive my
use of the Umlaut). When translating back, that often causes mistakes. It
is the same kind of problem as we have with pronouns - a lot of native
English speakers have immense trouble using der/die/das correctly, because
they only know 'the' for all three cases.

Similar mistakes you will often see from us Saxons is us driving bicycles
(because both driving and riding translate to 'fahren' unless actual horses
are involved) and peace pigeons (because doves and pigeons translate to
'Taube').

Liebe Gruesse,
Joerg

 

[Lew]

It's also the precise word for that phenomenon in the Java language.

In a somewhat circular definition, "override" is the term for which
the '@Override' annotation applies.

The JLS distinguishes this from other kinds of hiding, namely "hiding"
itself, "shadowing" and "obscuring".

On another front, the ability to override methods in a subtype is essential
to the notion of object-oriented programming, at least in languages that have
methods.

The term "overwrite" in Java and other computer programming contexts applies
to the replacement of data or information with other data or information.

One could philosophize that the two terms are related, but in usage they
have particular contexts and denotations that must be respected.

It's not a standard Java term.

It had better not mean "override", because there is already a term for what
"override" means, and it would be improper to use a term with a different
meaning for that meaning.

It would have to mean something distinct from "override", or else it is not
a legitimate usage in a Java context. Certainly the person using the term
"overwrite a method" has a responsibility to explain what they mean, since it
is not a standard Java term.

I would also use overwrite in the context of assigning a new value to
(primitive) variable, which overwrites the existing value, as well as in

In the JLS, "overwrite" appears zero times.

various hardware related aspects (such as overwriting a shader program or
overwriting a graphics buffer).

Your assumption is not unreasonable but would need confirmation by whomever
is using the term.

I don't know if that is true.

As a German, born and raised, I can confirm that both words typically
translate to the same German word ("Überschreiben", if you will forgivemy
use of the Umlaut). When translating back, that often causes mistakes. It
is the same kind of problem as we have with pronouns - a lot of native
English speakers have immense trouble using der/die/das correctly, because
they only know 'the' for all three cases.

Similar mistakes you will often see from us Saxons is us driving bicycles
(because both driving and riding translate to 'fahren' unless actual horses
are involved) and peace pigeons (because doves and pigeons translate to
'Taube').

Actually, a dove is a type of pigeon, so it makes sense.

Anyway, in English "overwrite" means to replace with different writing, and
"override" means something more like "overrule" or "take over control".