Inheritance

Java Inheritance:

• Definition:

  • Inheritance is an Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concept that allows creating a new class (subclass) from an existing class (superclass).

• Syntax:

  class Subclass extends Superclass {
      // fields and methods of Subclass
  }

• Example:

  class Animal {
      String name;
      public void eat() {
          System.out.println("I can eat");
      }
  }
  
  class Dog extends Animal {
      public void display() {
          System.out.println("My name is " + name);
      }
  }
  
  class Main {
      public static void main(String[] args) {
          Dog labrador = new Dog();
          labrador.name = "Rohu";
          labrador.display();
          labrador.eat();
      }
  }
  /*
  Output:
  My name is Rohu
  I can eat
  */

• Inheritance Types:

  1. Single Inheritance:

     • One subclass extends one superclass.

     • Example: Class A extends Class B.

  2. Multilevel Inheritance:

     • Subclass extends another subclass, creating a chain.

     • Example: Class B extends Class A and Class C extends Class B.

  3. Hierarchical Inheritance:

     • Multiple subclasses extend a single superclass.

     • Example: Class B extends Class A and Class C extends Class A.

  4. Multiple Inheritance:

     • One subclass extends multiple superclasses.

     • Note: Java does not support multiple inheritance directly.

  5. Hybrid Inheritance:

     • Combination of two or more types of inheritance.