Java Inheritance

In Java, inheritance is a mechanism by which a class (subclass) can inherit properties and behaviors from another class (superclass). Here's an overview with examples:

Definition:

• Inheritance allows a subclass to acquire the attributes and methods of its superclass.

Syntax:

• Define a subclass by using the extends keyword followed by the superclass name.
• Example:

class Subclass extends Superclass {
    // Subclass definition
}

There are different types of inheritance, including:

Single Inheritance:

• A subclass inherits from only one superclass.
• Example:

class Subclass extends Superclass {
    // Subclass definition
}

Multilevel Inheritance:

• Subclasses can inherit from other subclasses, creating a chain of inheritance.
• Example:

class Animal {
    // Animal class definition
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    // Dog class definition
}

class Labrador extends Dog {
    // Labrador class definition
}

Hierarchical Inheritance:

• Multiple subclasses inherit from the same superclass.
• Example:

class Animal {
    // Animal class definition
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    // Dog class definition
}

class Cat extends Animal {
    // Cat class definition
}

Multiple Inheritance (Not Supported in Java):

• A subclass inherits from multiple superclasses.
• Java does not support multiple inheritance for classes to avoid the diamond problem.
• However, multiple inheritance is supported for interfaces using interface implementation.

Summary

Inheritance promotes code reuse and facilitates the creation of hierarchical relationships between classes. Understanding the different types of inheritance is essential for building modular and extensible Java applications.