The Object class is a fundamental class in Java that serves as the base for all other classes. It provides a set of common methods and behaviors that are inherited by all other classes in Java. This means that every class in Java is a subclass of the Object class, directly or indirectly.
The Object class in Java provides several important methods that can be used by any object. For example, the `equals()` method is used to compare two objects for equality. Another important method is the `hashCode()` method, which returns a unique integer value for each object. This allows objects to be stored and retrieved from data structures such as hash tables efficiently. In addition to these basic methods, the Object class also provides methods for object cloning (`clone()`), string representation (`toString()`), and more.
By having a common base class like Object, Java ensures that all objects have these essential methods available to them. This allows for consistency in the way objects are treated and manipulated in a Java program. Moreover, the Object class in Java plays a crucial role in polymorphism. Polymorphism is a key feature of object-oriented programming, and it allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. By having all classes inherit from the Object class, Java ensures that objects can be processed and manipulated uniformly, regardless of their specific class. This inheritance from the Object class also enables important features like method overloading and method overriding. In summary, the Object class in Java is a fundamental class that serves as the base for all other classes.
object class functions are: