[java] Casting objects in Java

For example you have Animal superclass and Cat subclass.Say your subclass has speak(); method.

class Animal{

  public void walk(){

  }

}

class Cat extends Animal{

  @Override
  public void walk(){

  }

  public void speak(){

  }

  public void main(String args[]){

    Animal a=new Cat();
    //a.speak(); Compile Error
    // If you use speak method for "a" reference variable you should downcast. Like this:

    ((Cat)a).speak();
  }

}