Inheritance in Java
Inheritance in java is a mechanism in which one object acquires all the
properties and behaviors of parent object.
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 parent class, and you can add new methods and
fields also.
Inheritance represents the IS-A relationship, also known as parent-
child relationship.
Why use inheritance in java
o For Method Overriding (so runtime polymorphism can be achieved).
o For Code Reusability.
Syntax of Java Inheritance
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 parent or super
class and the new class is called child or subclass.
Java Inheritance Example
As displayed in the above figure, Programmer is the subclass and Employee is
the super class. Relationship between two classes is Programmer IS-An
Employee. It means that Programmer is a type of Employee.
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
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.
Note: Multiple inheritances are not supported in java through class.
Single Inheritance Example
File: TestInheritance.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 TestInheritance{
8. public static void main(String args[]){
9. Dog d=new Dog();
10. d.bark();
11. d.eat();
12. }}
Output:
barking...
eating...
Multilevel Inheritance Example
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();
13. d.weep();
14. d.bark();
15. d.eat();
16. }}
Output:
weeping...
barking...
eating...
Hierarchical Inheritance Example
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{
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...
