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).
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
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 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.
1. class Employee{
2. float salary=40000;
3. }
4. class Programmer extends Employee{
5. int bonus=10000; }
6. Public class sample
7. {
8. public static void main(String args[]){
9. Programmer p=new Programmer();
10. System.out.println("Programmer salary is:"+p.salary);
11. System.out.println("Bonus of Programmer is:"+p.bonus);
12. }
13. }
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
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
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
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
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
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...
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.
1. class A{
2. void msg(){System.out.println("Hello");}
3. }
4. class B{
5. void msg(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
6. }
7. class C extends A,B{//suppose if it were
8.
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. C obj=new C();
11. obj.msg();//Now which msg() method would be invoked?
12. }
13. }
Compile Time Error
