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Inheritance in Java
Inheritance in Java is a mechanism in which one object acquires all the properties
and behaviors of a parent object. It is an important part of OOPs (Object Oriented
programming system).
The idea behind inheritance in Java is that you can create new classes that are built
upon existing classes. When you inherit from an existing class, you can reuse
methods and fields of the parent class. Moreover, you can add new methods and
fields in your current class also.
Inheritance represents the IS-A relationship which is also known as a parent-child
relationship.
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Why use inheritance in java
For Method Overriding (so runtime polymorphism can be achieved).
For Code Reusability.
Terms used in Inheritance
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Class: A class is a group of objects which have common properties. It is a
template or blueprint from which objects are created.
Sub Class/Child Class: Subclass is a class which inherits the other class. It
is also called a derived class, extended class, or child class.
Super Class/Parent Class: Superclass is the class from where a subclass
inherits the features. It is also called a base class or a parent class.
Reusability: As the name specifies, reusability is a mechanism which
facilitates you to reuse the fields and methods of the existing class when you
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create a new class. You can use the same fields and methods already
defined in the previous class.
The syntax of Java Inheritance
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1. class Subclass-name extends Superclass-name
2. {
3. //methods and fields
4. }
The extends keyword indicates that you are making a new class that derives from
an existing class. The meaning of "extends" is to increase the functionality.
In the terminology of Java, a class which is inherited is called a parent or
superclass, and the new class is called child or subclass.
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Java Inheritance Example
As displayed in the above figure, Programmer is the subclass and Employee is the
superclass. The relationship between the two classes is Programmer IS-A
Employee. It means that Programmer is a type of Employee.
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1. class Employee{
2. float salary=40000;
3. }
4. class Programmer extends Employee{
5. int bonus=10000;
6. public static void main(String args[]){
7. Programmer p=new Programmer();
8. System.out.println("Programmer salary is:"+p.salary);
9. System.out.println("Bonus of Programmer is:"+p.bonus);
10. }
11. }
Test it Now
Programmer salary is:40000.0
Bonus of programmer is:10000
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In the above example, Programmer object can access the field of own class as well
as of Employee class i.e. code reusability.
Types of inheritance in java
On the basis of class, there can be three types of inheritance in java: single,
multilevel and hierarchical.
In java programming, multiple and hybrid inheritance is supported through interface
only. We will learn about interfaces later.
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Note: Multiple inheritance is not supported in Java through class.
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When one class inherits multiple classes, it is known as multiple inheritance. For
Example:
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Single Inheritance Example
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When a class inherits another class, it is known as a single inheritance. In the
example given below, Dog class inherits the Animal class, so there is the single
inheritance.
File: TestInheritance.java
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1. class Animal{
2. void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}
3. }
4. class Dog extends Animal{
5. void bark(){System.out.println("barking...");}
6. }
7. class TestInheritance{
8. public static void main(String args[]){
9. Dog d=new Dog();
10. d.bark();
11. d.eat();
12. }}
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Output:
barking...
eating...
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Multilevel Inheritance Example
When there is a chain of inheritance, it is known as multilevel inheritance. As you
can see in the example given below, BabyDog class inherits the Dog class which
again inherits the Animal class, so there is a multilevel inheritance.
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File: TestInheritance2.java
1. class Animal{
2. void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}
3. }
4. class Dog extends Animal{
5. void bark(){System.out.println("barking...");}
6. }
7. class BabyDog extends Dog{
8. void weep(){System.out.println("weeping...");}
9. }
10. class TestInheritance2{
11. public static void main(String args[]){
12. BabyDog d=new BabyDog();
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13. d.weep();
14. d.bark();
15. d.eat();
16. }}
Output:
weeping...
barking...
eating...
Hierarchical Inheritance Example
When two or more classes inherits a single class, it is known as hierarchical
inheritance. In the example given below, Dog and Cat classes inherits the Animal
class, so there is hierarchical inheritance.
File: TestInheritance3.java
1. class Animal{
2. void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}
3. }
4. class Dog extends Animal{
5. void bark(){System.out.println("barking...");}
6. }
7. class Cat extends Animal{
8. void meow(){System.out.println("meowing...");}
9. }
10. class TestInheritance3{
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11. public static void main(String args[]){
12. Cat c=new Cat();
13. c.meow();
14. c.eat();
15. //c.bark();//C.T.Error
16. }}
Output:
meowing...
eating...
Q) Why multiple inheritance is not supported in java?
To reduce the complexity and simplify the language, multiple inheritance is not
supported in java.
Consider a scenario where A, B, and C are three classes. The C class inherits A and
B classes. If A and B classes have the same method and you call it from child class
object, there will be ambiguity to call the method of A or B class.
Since compile-time errors are better than runtime errors, Java renders compile-
time error if you inherit 2 classes. So whether you have same method or different,
there will be compile time error.
1. class A{
2. void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
3. }
4. class B{
5. void msg(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
6. }
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7. class C extends A,B{//suppose if it were
8.
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. C obj=new C();
11. obj.msg();//Now which msg() method would be invoked?
12. }
13. }
Test it Now
Compile Time Error
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