[josefx]

The Java bytecode stores it, however the Java language normally does not expose it. Having the compiler select the correct overload based on return type would most likely add a lot of complexity to the language itself ( have you seen the current overload resolution rules? ) without much benefit.

I think the compiler actually has to work around that when you narrow the return type of an overriden function: A method Object Base::get() overriden with Integer Child::get() will result in an additional compiler generated Object Child::get() in the bytecode.

[jdmichal]

Yep. They're called "bridge" methods. Though, interestingly, there's only one point that they're mentioned in the language spec, specifically in the case of erasure. Even though they were needed before erasure for exactly this reason.

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/html/jls-15.htm...