Source code hierarchy

Last modified: 29 November 2022

With IntelliJ IDEA, you can examine the hierarchy of classes, methods, and calls and explore the structure of source files.

Build hierarchies

  • Type hierarchies show parent and child classes of a class.

  • Method hierarchies show subclasses where the method overrides the selected one as well as superclasses or interfaces where the selected method gets overridden.

    In the hierarchy tree, IntelliJ IDEA displays the method should be defined icon to indicate subclasses that are not abstract but don't have the method defined in them. When a method is not defined in a class, but is defined in the superclass, IntelliJ IDEA displays the method not defined icon.

  • Call hierarchies show callers (supertypes) or callees (subtypes) of a method.

    If you invoke the call hierarchy on a field, it will show you the list of the methods where the selected field is used.

When built, a hierarchy can be immediately viewed and examined in the Hierarchy tool window. By default, every new built hierarchy overwrites the contents of the current tab. You can retain the current tab and have the next hierarchy built in a new one.

Build a type hierarchy

  1. Select the desired class in the Project tool window or open it in the editor.

  2. From the main menu, select Navigate | Type Hierarchy or just press Ctrl+H.

    Class hierarchy shown in the Hierarchy Tool Window

Different colors of elements stand for different scopes to which these files belong. For example, green by default is used for tests. For more information, refer to Associate scopes with colors.

Build a method hierarchy

  1. Open the file in the editor and place the caret at the declaration of the desired method.

    Alternatively, select the desired method in the Project tool window.

  2. From the main menu, select Navigate | Method Hierarchy or press Ctrl+Shift+H.

Build a call hierarchy

  1. Open a file in the editor and place the caret at the declaration or usage of the desired method or a field.

    Alternatively, select the desired method or the field in the Project tool window.

  2. From the main menu, select Navigate | Call Hierarchy or press Ctrl+Alt+H.

Retain a hierarchy tab

  • In the Hierarchy tool window, click the Pin Tab button Pin button on the toolbar.

View hierarchies

Open the Hierarchy tool window

  1. Make sure, you have already built hierarchies to show, see Building hierarchies above.

  2. Select View | Tool Windows | Hierarchy from the main menu.

Navigate between the tabs

  • Click the currently displayed tab and select the next one to display from the list.

Toggle between views

  • With IntelliJ IDEA, you can build and explore ascending or descending hierarchies, that is, callee or caller methods, parent or children classes, and so on.

    Click the Caller Hierarchy toolbar button or the Callee Hierarchy toolbar button to show caller methods or callee methods respectively.