Inheritance in Java
Definition:
Inheritance is the mechanism by which one class acquires the properties (fields) and behaviors
(methods) of another class.
It provides code reusability and establishes a parent-child relationship between classes.
Syntax:
class Parent {
// properties and methods
class Child extends Parent {
// additional properties and methods
Example of Inheritance
class Animal {
void eat() {
System.out.println("This animal eats food");
class Dog extends Animal {
void bark() {
System.out.println("Dog barks");
}
}
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Dog d = new Dog();
d.eat(); // inherited method
d.bark(); // Dog class method
Types of Inheritance in Java
Java supports 5 types of inheritance:
Type Supported in Java Description
1. Single Inheritance ✅ Yes One class inherits from another class
2. Multilevel Inheritance ✅ Yes A class inherits from a derived class
Multiple classes inherit from a single
3. Hierarchical Inheritance ✅ Yes
class
4. Multiple Inheritance (by
✅ Yes A class implements multiple interfaces
Interface)
✅ Yes (with
5. Hybrid Inheritance Combination of two or more types
Interface)
1. Single Inheritance
class A {
void show() {
System.out.println("Class A method");
}
class B extends A {
void display() {
System.out.println("Class B method");
class Test {
public static void main(String args[]) {
B obj = new B();
obj.show();
obj.display();
2. Multilevel Inheritance
class A {
void show() {
System.out.println("Class A");
}
class B extends A {
void display() {
System.out.println("Class B");
class C extends B {
void print() {
System.out.println("Class C");
class Test {
public static void main(String args[]) {
C obj = new C();
obj.show(); // From A
obj.display(); // From B
obj.print(); // From C
3.Hierarchical Inheritance
class Parent {
void parentMethod() {
System.out.println("Parent class method");
class Child1 extends Parent {
void child1Method() {
System.out.println("Child1 class method");
class Child2 extends Parent {
void child2Method() {
System.out.println("Child2 class method");
class Test {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Child1 c1 = new Child1();
c1.parentMethod();
c1.child1Method();
Child2 c2 = new Child2();
c2.parentMethod();
c2.child2Method();
4. Multiple Inheritance using Interface
Java does not support multiple inheritance with classes (to avoid ambiguity), but supports it
via interfaces.
interface Printable {
void print();
interface Showable {
void show();
class A implements Printable, Showable {
public void print() {
System.out.println("Print method");
public void show() {
System.out.println("Show method");
}
class Test {
public static void main(String args[]) {
A obj = new A();
obj.print();
obj.show();
5. Hybrid Inheritance
Combination of more than one type, achieved through interfaces.
interface A {
void methodA();
interface B {
void methodB();
class C implements A, B {
public void methodA() {
System.out.println("A's method");
public void methodB() {
System.out.println("B's method");
class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
C obj = new C();
obj.methodA();
obj.methodB();
✅ Key Points of Inheritance in Java
Use extends keyword for class inheritance.
Use implements for interface inheritance.
Java does not support multiple inheritance with classes, only through interfaces.
Constructor is not inherited, but the parent constructor is implicitly called in child.
Private members of parent class are not accessible directly in child class.
