Inheritance In Java
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Introduction to Inheritance in Java
Inheritance is a key concept in object-oriented
programming.
It allows a class to inherit attributes and
methods from another class.
In Java, inheritance enables code reusability and
promotes a hierarchical relationship between
classes.
Superclass and Subclass Relationship
In Java, a superclass is the class that is being
inherited from.
A subclass is the class that inherits from the
superclass.
Subclasses can access public and protected
members of the superclass.
Syntax of Inheritance in Java
To create a subclass, use the extends keyword
followed by the superclass name.
Example: "class SubClass extends SuperClass {
}"
Subclasses inherit all non-private members of
the superclass.
Types of Inheritance
Java supports single inheritance, where a class
can only inherit from one superclass.
Java also supports multiple inheritance through
interfaces, where a class can implement
multiple interfaces.
Hierarchical inheritance is when multiple
subclasses inherit from the same superclass.
Overriding Methods in Subclasses
Subclasses can override methods from the
superclass to provide their own implementation.
Use the @Override annotation to indicate that a
method is being overridden.
Overriding allows for polymorphism and
dynamic method invocation.
Access Modifiers in Inheritance
The access modifier of a member in a
superclass determines its visibility in
subclasses.
Public members are accessible to all subclasses
and classes in the same package.
Protected members are accessible to subclasses
and classes in the same package.
Constructors and Inheritance
When a subclass is created, the superclass
constructor is implicitly called.
If the superclass has a parameterized
constructor, the subclass constructor must
explicitly call it.
Constructors are not inherited, but they are
invoked through the constructor chaining
mechanism.
The Object Class in Java
Every class in Java is a subclass of the Object
class.
The Object class provides basic functionalities
such as toString(), equals(), and hashCode().
Overriding methods from the Object class can
customize the behavior of objects.
Using the super Keyword
The super keyword is used to refer to the
superclass in a subclass.
It can be used to call the superclass constructor
or access superclass members.
Calling super() must be the first statement in a
subclass constructor.
Best Practices for Inheritance in Java
Use inheritance to promote code reuse and
create a hierarchical structure.
Avoid deep inheritance hierarchies to prevent
complexity and maintainability issues.
Favor composition over inheritance when
possible to achieve better flexibility and
modularity.
