Inheritance and Its Types

Prepared By : Kanojiya Babloo Rajendra
Inheritance in Java
Inheritance in Java is a mechanism in which one object acquires all the
properties and behaviors of a parent object. It is an important part
of OOPs (Object Oriented programming system).
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 the parent class. Moreover, you can add
new methods and fields in your current class also.
Inheritance represents the IS-A relationship which is also known as

a parent-child relationship.
Why use inheritance in java

o For Method Overriding (so runtime polymorphism can be achieved).
o For Code Reusability.
Terms used in Inheritance

o Class: A class is a group of objects which have common properties. It is a
template or blueprint from which objects are created.
o Sub Class/Child Class: Subclass is a class which inherits the other class. It
is also called a derived class, extended class, or child class.
o Super Class/Parent Class: Superclass is the class from where a subclass

inherits the features. It is also called a base class or a parent class.
o Reusability: As the name specifies, reusability is a mechanism which

facilitates you to reuse the fields and methods of the existing class when
you create a new class. You can use the same fields and methods already
defined in the previous class.
The syntax of Java Inheritance

class Subclass-name extends Superclass-name
//methods and fields

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 a parent or

superclass, 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 superclass. The relationship between the two classes is Programmer IS-
A Employee. It means that Programmer is a type of Employee.
class Employee{
float salary=40000;
class Programmer extends Employee{
int bonus=10000;
public static void main(String args[]){
Programmer p=new Programmer();
System.out.println("Programmer salary is:"+p.salary);
System.out.println("Bonus of Programmer is:"+p.bonus);
}
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 inheritance is not supported in Java through class.
When one class inherits multiple classes, it is known as multiple inheritance.

For Example:
Single Inheritance Example

When a class inherits another class, it is known as a single inheritance. In the
example given below, Dog class inherits the Animal class, so there is the
single inheritance.
File: TestInheritance.java
class Animal{
void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}
class Dog extends Animal{
void bark(){System.out.println("barking...");}
class TestInheritance{
Dog d=new Dog();
d.bark();
d.eat();
}}
Output:
barking...
eating...
Multilevel Inheritance Example

When there is a chain of inheritance, it is known as multilevel inheritance. As
you can see in the example given below, BabyDog class inherits the Dog
class which again inherits the Animal class, so there is a multilevel
inheritance.
File: TestInheritance2.java
class Animal{
}
class BabyDog extends Dog{
void weep(){System.out.println("weeping...");}
class TestInheritance2{
BabyDog d=new BabyDog();
d.weep();
d.bark();
d.eat();
}}
Output:
weeping...
barking...
eating...
Hierarchical Inheritance Example

When two or more classes inherits a single class, it is known as hierarchical
inheritance. In the example given below, Dog and Cat classes inherits the
Animal class, so there is hierarchical inheritance.
File: TestInheritance3.java
class Animal{
class Cat extends Animal{

void meow(){System.out.println("meowing...");}
class TestInheritance3{
Cat c=new Cat();
c.meow();
c.eat();
//c.bark();//C.T.Error
}}
Output:
meowing... eating...
Q) Why multiple inheritance is not supported in

java?
To reduce the complexity and simplify the language, multiple inheritance is
not supported in java.
Consider a scenario where A, B, and C are three classes. The C class inherits
A and B classes. If A and B classes have the same method and you call it
from child class object, there will be ambiguity to call the method of A or B
class.
Since compile-time errors are better than runtime errors, Java renders
compile-time error if you inherit 2 classes. So whether you have same
method or different, there will be compile time error.
class A{
void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
class B{
void msg(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
}
class C extends A,B{//suppose if it were
C obj=new C();
obj.msg();//Now which msg() method would be invoked?
}
Compile Time Error

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Prepared By : Kanojiya Babloo Rajendra

Inheritance represents the IS-A relationship which is also known as

Why use inheritance in java

o For Code Reusability.

Terms used in Inheritance

o Super Class/Parent Class: Superclass is the class from where a subclass

o Reusability: As the name specifies, reusability is a mechanism which

The syntax of Java Inheritance

//methods and fields

In the terminology of Java, a class which is inherited is called a parent or

Java Inheritance Example

As displayed in the above figure, Programmer is the subclass and Employee

class Programmer extends Employee{

public static void main(String args[]){

Programmer p=new Programmer();

System.out.println("Programmer salary is:"+p.salary);

System.out.println("Bonus of Programmer is:"+p.bonus);

Types of inheritance in java

In java programming, multiple and hybrid inheritance is supported through

Note: Multiple inheritance is not supported in Java through class.

When one class inherits multiple classes, it is known as multiple inheritance.

Single Inheritance Example

class Dog extends Animal{

public static void main(String args[]){

Dog d=new Dog();

Multilevel Inheritance Example

class Dog extends Animal{

class BabyDog extends Dog{

public static void main(String args[]){

BabyDog d=new BabyDog();

Hierarchical Inheritance Example

class Dog extends Animal{

class Cat extends Animal{

public static void main(String args[]){

Cat c=new Cat();

Q) Why multiple inheritance is not supported in

class C extends A,B{//suppose if it were

public static void main(String args[]){

obj.msg();//Now which msg() method would be invoked?

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