SCJP question: Java method overloading with var-args. What is the rationale?

You are right that widening comes before boxing, which in turn comes before var-args But you seem to be treating the first method as callMethod(Integer i) not callMethod(Integer... i) Since both methods use var-args, there's a priority tie That is, neither one meets the criteria for boxing alone, but both meet the criteria for var-args Remember that it's illegal to widen, then box (although I did some research before posting this answer and found that it IS legal to box, then widen). Similarly, you won't get box, then var-args behavior; the compiler skips right to the var-args step and sees two methods that take var-args EDIT: I should clarify that you WILL get box-then-var-args behavior if there's no ambiguity. In other words, if there was only one callMethod() and it took Integer... I you would get Wrapper.

You are right that widening comes before boxing, which in turn comes before var-args. But you seem to be treating the first method as callMethod(Integer i), not callMethod(Integer... i). Since both methods use var-args, there's a priority tie.

That is, neither one meets the criteria for boxing alone, but both meet the criteria for var-args. Remember that it's illegal to widen, then box (although I did some research before posting this answer and found that it IS legal to box, then widen). Similarly, you won't get box, then var-args behavior; the compiler skips right to the var-args step and sees two methods that take var-args.

EDIT: I should clarify that you WILL get box-then-var-args behavior if there's no ambiguity. In other words, if there was only one callMethod(), and it took Integer... i, you would get "Wrapper.

I kinda thought that it tried the three approaches and the first one to be "invocable" would be invoked. Although the method takes (Integer... i), I sort of expected that boxing into an Integer would make that method "invocable". But, as you say, it seems that the subsequent "var-arg-ization" is also taken into account.

Cheers! – Markos Fragkakis Feb 23 '10 at 21:59.

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