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Inheritance

Concept of Inheritance in programming

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Velen Adrias
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5 views

Inheritance

Concept of Inheritance in programming

Uploaded by

Velen Adrias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Inheritance is a key concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows classes, known

as subclasses or child classes, to inherit properties and methods from other classes, known as
superclasses or parent classes. Much like the traits we inherit from our parents, inheritance
enables objects to share characteristics and behaviors, creating a structured, organized, and
reusable code foundation.

Inheritance allows programmers to define shared characteristics in a parent class, which child
classes can then adopt and expand upon. For example, consider an “Animal” class representing
shared traits such as breathing, eating, and movement. Specific animals, like “Dog” and “Cat,”
can be represented as subclasses that inherit these basic traits, while adding their unique
features. This structure prevents the need to repeatedly code shared traits, making the process
more efficient and reducing duplication.

Inheritance also supports a hierarchical organization in programming, where classes are


categorized based on shared and unique features. This helps create readable, manageable
code that’s easy to maintain. For instance, any update to a method in a parent class
automatically applies to all inheriting subclasses. Furthermore, inheritance promotes
polymorphism, allowing subclasses to alter inherited behaviors, such as how “Dog” and “Cat”
might have unique implementations of a “makeSound” method.

In essence, inheritance in programming reflects the real-life inheritance of traits, allowing


classes to adopt and build upon shared characteristics. By using inheritance, programmers
create a flexible and well-organized codebase that promotes reusability, reduces redundancy,
and allows for easy adaptability making it a powerful tool in software development.

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