What is casting in Java?

Casting in Java refers specifically to the process of converting an object of one type into another type. This is important in a language like Java, which is strongly typed and requires explicit conversion between incompatible types.

When you cast an object, you tell the Java compiler to treat the object as if it were a different type. For example, if you have a reference of a superclass type, and you know that it actually points to an instance of a subclass, you can cast it to the subclass type. This allows you to access subclass-specific methods and properties.

This process is especially useful in scenarios involving polymorphism, where a parent class reference can point to objects of child classes. Without casting, you wouldn't be able to operate on subclass-specific behaviors and attributes directly.

Understanding casting can help prevent runtime errors that might occur when attempting to use incompatible types. Thus, it is a foundational aspect of working with object-oriented concepts in Java, enabling more flexible and dynamic code.