# this vs super, In Depth — Core Java

Source: https://www.geekswithgeeks.com/en/core-java/java-this-super

> Pin down every use of this and super — referring to the current instance, chaining constructors, disambiguating fields, and reaching a parent's overridden method.

## What each one means

`this` refers to the **current object** — useful to disambiguate a field from a same-named parameter, to pass the current instance elsewhere, or to chain to another constructor with `this(...)`. `super` refers to the **immediate superclass part** of the current object — used for `super.method()` and `super(...)`.

## Both together

`super.describe()` calls the parent's version even though `Dog` overrides it, letting the child **extend** rather than fully replace the behaviour.

```java
class Animal {
    protected String name;
    Animal(String name) { this.name = name; }
    String describe() { return "Animal: " + name; }
}
class Dog extends Animal {
    Dog(String name) { super(name); }
    @Override String describe() {
        return super.describe() + " (a dog)";
    }
}
```

## The rules

`this(...)` and `super(...)` can each only appear as the **first statement** of a constructor, and you can never use both in the same one — the object needs exactly one initialization path per constructor.