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Inheritance in programming allows a subclass to acquire properties and behaviors from a superclass, establishing an 'is-a' relationship. The document provides a code example demonstrating a Vehicle superclass and a Car subclass, highlighting the benefits of code reusability and logical structure, as well as the drawbacks like tight coupling and limited flexibility. Additionally, it discusses real-world applications of inheritance in banking systems, showcasing how different account types can be modeled.

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10 views4 pages

Akrb 1

Inheritance in programming allows a subclass to acquire properties and behaviors from a superclass, establishing an 'is-a' relationship. The document provides a code example demonstrating a Vehicle superclass and a Car subclass, highlighting the benefits of code reusability and logical structure, as well as the drawbacks like tight coupling and limited flexibility. Additionally, it discusses real-world applications of inheritance in banking systems, showcasing how different account types can be modeled.

Uploaded by

rvs1024p
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Definition

Inheritance allows a class (called the "subclass" or "child class") to acquire the properties and
behaviors of another class (called the "superclass" or "parent class"). This relationship is often
described as an "is-a" relationship, where the subclass "is a type of" the superclass.

SYNTAX:

class ParentClass {

// fields and methods

class ChildClass extends ParentClass {

// additional fields and methods

CODE:

// Superclass

class Vehicle {

protected int speed;

protected int fuel;

public Vehicle(int speed, int fuel) {

this.speed = speed;

this.fuel = fuel;

public void displayInfo() {

System.out.println("Speed: " + speed + " km/h");

System.out.println("Fuel: " + fuel + " liters");

// Subclass
class Car extends Vehicle {

private String brand;

public Car(int speed, int fuel, String brand) {

super(speed, fuel); // Calls the constructor of the superclass

this.brand = brand;

public void displayCarInfo() {

displayInfo(); // Calls the method of the superclass

System.out.println("Brand: " + brand);

// Main class to test inheritance

public class Main {

public static void main(String[] args) {

Car myCar = new Car(150, 50, "Toyota");

myCar.displayCarInfo();

}
Explanation of the Code

1. Superclass (Vehicle): This class has two fields, speed and fuel, and a method displayInfo() that prints
these attributes. The protected keyword allows subclasses to access these fields directly.

2. Subclass (Car): The Car class extends Vehicle, inheriting its fields and methods. Car has an additional
field brand and a method displayCarInfo() that first calls displayInfo() from the superclass to print
speed and fuel, then prints the car brand.

3. Main Class: We create an instance of Car and call its displayCarInfo() method, which outputs both the
vehicle's basic information and the car-specific brand.

OUT PUT:

Speed: 150 km/h

Fuel: 50 liters

Brand: Toyota
Pros of Inheritance

1. Code Reusability: Common functionality can be defined once in the superclass and reused by subclasses.

2. Simplifies Code: Reduces code duplication, making programs shorter and easier to manage.

3. Logical Structure: Encourages a hierarchical structure, which helps organize related classes and makes the design
more intuitive.

4. Extendability: New functionality can be added to existing code by creating subclasses, promoting scalability.

Cons of Inheritance

1. Tight Coupling: Subclasses are dependent on the superclass, making it difficult to make changes in the superclass
without affecting subclasses.

2. Increased Complexity: Deep inheritance hierarchies can make the code hard to follow and understand.

3. Limited Flexibility: A subclass can only inherit from one superclass in Java (single inheritance), which can be
restrictive.

4. Potential for Misuse: If inheritance is used where it isn’t appropriate (like when the "is-a" relationship doesn’t
hold), it can lead to code that is difficult to maintain or understand.

BLOCK DIAGRAM:
REAL TIME:

Banking and Finance Applications

In banking systems, inheritance is often used to model different types of bank accounts. Here’s a
hierarchy you might see:

 Superclass: Account

o Common attributes: accountNumber, balance, ownerName.

o Common methods: deposit(), withdraw(), getBalance().

 Subclasses: SavingsAccount, CheckingAccount, FixedDepositAccount

o SavingsAccount: May have additional methods to calculate interest.

o CheckingAccount: Might include methods for overdraft protection.

o FixedDepositAccount: Could add restrictions on withdrawals.

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