CS: Objects in Python
Inheritance
Extending & Overriding
Learning Objectives - Extending &
Overriding
Define the terms extending and overriding
Extend the parent class with new method
Override methods from the parent class with new
functionality
Extending a Class
Extending the __init__ Method
The idea of inheritance is to borrow from a parent class and then add on
functionality. Up until now, we have talked about borrowing from a
parent class. The process of adding functionality to a child class is known
as either extending or overriding. Extending a class means that new
attributes and methods are given to the child class.
Superhero and Person Classes
The code below will first call upon the __init__ method (using super()) of
the parent class to create the attributes name, age, and occupation. The
__init__ method is extended when the attribute secret_identity is added
to the Superhero class.
class Superhero(Person):
def __init__(self, name, age, occupation, secret_identity):
super().__init__(name, age, occupation)
self.secret_identity = secret_identity
hero = Superhero("Spider-Man", 17, "student", "Peter Parker")
print(hero.secret_identity)
Inheritance is a One-Way Street
Inheritance shares attributes and methods from the parent class to the
child class. When a child class is extended, it cannot share the new
additions with their parent class. In the code above, Superhero has access
to name, but Person does not have access to secret_identity.
challenge
Try this variation:
Rewrite the Superhero class so that it extends the Person class by adding the
attribute nemesis, Doc Octopus.
Solution
class Superhero(Person):
def __init__(self, name, age, occupation, secret_identity, nemesis):
super().__init__(name, age, occupation)
self.secret_identity = secret_identity
self.nemesis = nemesis
hero = Superhero("Spider-Man", 17, "student", "Peter Parker", "Doc Octopus")
print(hero.nemesis)
Extending a Class by Adding New Methods
Another way to extend a class is to create new methods that are unique to
the child class. For example, the say_hello method will give the
superhero’s name, but it will not divulge their secret identity. Create the
method reveal_secret_identity to print the attribute secret_identity.
class Superhero(Person):
def __init__(self, name, age, occupation, secret_identity, nemesis):
super().__init__(name, age, occupation)
self.secret_identity = secret_identity
def reveal_secret_identity(self):
print(f"My real name is {self.secret_identity}.")
hero = Superhero("Spider-Man", 17, "student", "Peter Parker", "Doc Octopus"
hero.reveal_secret_identity()
challenge
Try this variation:
Create the method say_nemesis that prints the string:
My nemesis is Doc Octopus..
Solution
class Superhero(Person):
def __init__(self, name, age, occupation, secret_identity, nemesis):
super().__init__(name, age, occupation)
self.secret_identity = secret_identity
self.nemesis = nemesis
def reveal_secret_identity(self):
print(f"My real name is {self.secret_identity}.")
def say_nemesis(self):
print(f"My nemesis is {self.nemesis}.")
hero = Superhero("Spider-Man", 17, "student", "Peter Parker", "Doc Octopus")
hero.say_nemesis()
Method Overriding
Overriding a Method
Extending a class means adding new attributes or methods to the child
class. Another way to add new functionality to a child class is through
method overriding. Overriding a method means to inherit a method from
the parent class, keep its name, but change the contents of the method.
Extend the Superhero class by overriding the say_hello. Make a new
instance of the class and call the method.
def say_hello(self):
print(f"I am {self.name}, and criminals fear me.")
hero = Superhero("Storm", "30", "Queen of Wakanda", "Ororo Munroe", "Shadow King"
hero.say_hello()
Differentiating Overriding and Extending
The difference between extending and overriding can be slight. Both
approaches are used to make a child class unique from the parent class.
Overriding deals with changing a pre-existing method from the parent
class, while extending deals with adding new methods and attributes.
challenge
Try this variation:
Override the say_age method so that it prints the string:
Young or old, I will triumph over evil.
Solution
def say_age(self):
print(f'Young or old I will trimph over evil')
hero = Superhero('Storm', 30, 'Queen of Wakanda', 'Oro Monroe', 'Shadow King'
hero.say_hello()
hero.say_age()
What Happens When You Override a Method?
If you can override a method from the parent class, what happens to the
original method? Using the help function, we can see a graphical
representation of the parent and child classes. Enter the code below and
run the program.
print(help(Superhero))
Notice that there is no section that says Methods inherited from Person:.
Does that mean that the Superhero can no longer use the original say_age
and say_hello methods? No, the child class can still call the methods from
the parent class. However, calling say_hello or say_age will not print the
same string as the parent class. Instead, using the super() keyword gives a
child class access to the original methods. Add the following method to the
Superhero class and then call it.
def old_say_hello(self):
super().say_hello()
hero.old_say_hello()
challenge
Try this variation:
Add the method old_say_age to the Superhero class and then call it.
Solution
def old_say_age(self):
super().say_age()
hero.old_say_age()
