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{

public static void main(String

args[]){ 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{

void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}

}
class Dog extends Animal{

void bark(){System.out.println("barking...");}

class BabyDog extends Dog{

void weep(){System.out.println("weeping...");}

class TestInheritance2{

public static void main(String

args[]){ 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{

void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}

class Dog extends Animal{

void bark(){System.out.println("barking...");}

class Cat extends Animal{

void meow(){System.out.println("meowing...");}

class TestInheritance3{

public static void main(String

args[]){ 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

public static void main(String

args[]){ C obj=new C();

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

}
Compile Time Error

Super Keyword in Java

The super keyword in Java is a reference variable which is used to
refer immediate parent class object.

Whenever you create the instance of subclass, an instance of parent

class is created implicitly which is referred by super reference variable.

Usage of Java super Keyword

1. super can be used to refer immediate parent class instance variable.

2. super can be used to invoke immediate parent class method.

3. super() can be used to invoke immediate parent class constructor.

1) super is used to refer immediate parent class

instance variable.
We can use super keyword to access the data member or field of
parent class. It is used if parent class and child class have same
fields.

class Animal{

String color="white";

class Dog extends

Animal{ String

color="black";

void printColor(){
System.out.println(color);//prints color of Dog class

System.out.println(super.color);//prints color of Animal class

class TestSuper1{

public static void main(String

args[]){ Dog d=new Dog();

d.printColor();

}}

Output:

black
white

In the above example, Animal and Dog both classes have a

common property color. If we print color property, it will print the
color of current class by default. To access the parent property, we
need to use super keyword.

2) super can be used to invoke parent class method

The super keyword can also be used to invoke parent class method. It
should be used if subclass contains the same method as parent
class. In other words, it is used if method is overridden.

class Animal{

void eat(){System.out.println("eating...");}

class Dog extends Animal{

void eat(){System.out.println("eating

bread...");} void bark()

{System.out.println("barking...");} void

work(){

super.eat();

bark();

}
}

class TestSuper2{

public static void main(String

args[]){ Dog d=new Dog();

d.work();

}}

Output:

eating...
barking...

In the above example Animal and Dog both classes have eat()
method if we call eat() method from Dog class, it will call the eat()
method of Dog class by default because priority is given to local.

To call the parent class method, we need to use super keyword.

3) super is used to invoke parent class constructor.

The super keyword can also be used to invoke the parent class
constructor. Let's see a simple example:

class Animal{ Animal()

{System.out.println("animal is created");}

class Dog extends

Animal{ Dog(){

super();

System.out.println("dog is created");

class TestSuper3{

public static void main(String

args[]){ Dog d=new Dog();

}}

Output:

animal is created
dog is created

Final Keyword In Java

The final keyword in java is used to restrict the user. The java final
keyword can be used in many context. Final can be:

1. variable

2. method

3. class

The final keyword can be applied with the variables, a final variable
that have no value it is called blank final variable or uninitialized final
variable. It can be initialized in the constructor only. The blank
final variable can be static also which will be initialized in the static
block only. We will have detailed learning of these. Let's first learn the
basics of final keyword.

1) Java final variable

If you make any variable as final, you cannot change the value of final
variable(It will be constant).
Example of final variable
There is a final variable speedlimit, we are going to change the value
of this variable, but It can't be changed because final variable once
assigned a value can never be changed.

class Bike9{

final int speedlimit=90;//final variable

void run(){

speedlimit=4

00;

public static void main(String

args[]){ Bike9 obj=new Bike9();

obj.run();

}//end of class
Output:Compile Time Error

2) Java final method

If you make any method as final, you cannot override it.

Example of final method

class Bike{

final void run(){System.out.println("running");}

class Honda extends Bike{

void run(){System.out.println("running safely with 100kmph");}

public static void main(String

args[]){ Honda honda= new

Honda(); honda.run();

}
}
Output:Compile Time Error

3) Java final class

If you make any class as final, you cannot extend it.

Example of final class

final class Bike{}

class Honda1 extends Bike{

void run(){System.out.println("running safely with 100kmph");}

public static void main(String

args[]){ Honda1 honda= new

Honda1(); honda.run();

}
Output:Compile Time Erro

Q) Is final method inherited?

Ans) Yes, final method is inherited but you cannot override it. For Example:

class Bike{

final void run(){System.out.println("running...");}

class Honda2 extends Bike{

public static void main(String args[]){

new Honda2().run();

}
Output:running...
Q) What is blank or uninitialized final variable?
A final variable that is not initialized at the time of declaration is
known as blank final variable.

If you want to create a variable that is initialized at the time of

creating object and once initialized may not be changed, it is useful.
For example PAN CARD number of an employee.

It can be initialized only in constructor.

Example of blank final variable

class Student{

int id;

String name;

final String PAN_CARD_NUMBER;

...

}
Que) Can we initialize blank final variable?

Yes, but only in constructor. For example:

class Bike10{

final int speedlimit;//blank final variable

Bike10(){

speedlimit=7

0;

System.out.println(speedlimit);

public static void main(String args[]){

new Bike10();

}
Output: 70
static blank final variable
A static final variable that is not initialized at the time of
declaration is known as static blank final variable. It can
be initialized only in static block.

Example of static blank final variable

class A{

static final int data;//static blank final variable

static{ data=50;}

public static void

main(String args[])

{ System.out.printl

n(A.data);

Q) What is final parameter?

If you declare any parameter as final, you cannot change the value
of it.

class Bike11{

int cube(final int n){

n=n+2;//can't be

changed as n is

final n*n*n;

public static void

main(String

args[]){ Bike11

b=new Bike11();

b.cube(5);

}
Output: Compile Time Error
 Q) Can we declare a constructor final?
No, because constructor is never inherited.

Interface in Java
An interface in Java is a blueprint of a class. It has static constants and
abstract methods.
The interface in Java is a mechanism to achieve abstraction. There can be
only abstract methods in the Java interface, not method body. It is used to
achieve abstraction and multiple inheritance in Java.
In other words, you can say that interfaces can have abstract methods and
variables. It cannot have a method body.
Java Interface also represents the IS-A
relationship. It cannot be instantiated just like
the abstract class.

Uses of Java interface

There are mainly three reasons to use interface. They are given below.
• It is used to achieve abstraction.
• By interface, we can support the functionality of multiple inheritance.
• It can be used to achieve loose coupling.

Declaring an interface
An interface is declared by using the interface keyword. It provides total
abstraction; means all the methods in an interface are declared with the
empty body, and all the fields are public, static and final by default. A class
that implements an interface must implement all the methods declared in the
interface.
Syntax:
interface interface_name
{
// declare constant fields
 // declare methods that abstract
// by default.
}

Relationship between classes and

interfaces
As shown in the figure given below, a class extends another class, an interface
extends another interface, but a class implements an interface.

Example

interface A
{
void display();
}
class B implements A
{
public void display()
{
System.out.println("Hello");
}
}
class MB
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
B obj = new
B();
obj.display();
}
}
Output:
Hello

Interface Example:
In this example, the interface A has only one method. Its implementation is
provided by B and C classes. In a real scenario, an interface is defined by
someone else, but its implementation is provided by different implementation
providers. Moreover, it is used by someone else. The implementation part is
hidden by the user who uses the interface.
interface A
{
void display();
}
class B implements A
{
public void display()
{
System.out.println("Display method in B class");
}
}
class C implements B
{
public void display()
{
System.out.println("display method in C class");
}
}
class MainClass
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
 D obj=new
D(); obj.draw();
}
}

Multiple inheritance by interface

If a class implements multiple interfaces, or an interface extends multiple
interfaces, it is known as multiple inheritance.

interface A
{
void display();
}
interface B
{
void show();
}
class C implements A,B
{
public void display()
 {
System.out.println("Hello");
}
public void show()
{
System.out.println("Welcome");
}
}
class MainClass
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
C obj = new
C();
obj.display();
obj.show();
}
}
Output:
Hello
Welcom
e

Interface inheritance
A class implements an interface, but one interface extends another
interface. interface A
{
void display();
}
interface B extends A
{
void show();
}
class C implements B
{
public void display()
{
System.out.println("Hello");
}
public void show()
{
System.out.println("Welcome");
}
}
Class MainClass
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
C obj = new
C();
obj.display();
obj.show();
}
}
Output:
Hello
Welcome

Abstract class in Java

A class which is declared as abstract is known as an abstract class. It can
have abstract and non-abstract methods. It needs to be extended and its
method implemented. It cannot be instantiated.

Points to Remember
• An abstract class must be declared with an abstract keyword.
• It can have abstract and non-abstract methods.
• It cannot be instantiated.
• It can have constructors and static methods also.
• It can have final methods which will force the subclass not to change
the body of the method.

Example
abstract class
{ }

Abstract Method
A method which is declared as abstract and does not have implementation is
known as an abstract method.
Example
abstract void display(); //no method body and abstract

Example of Abstract class that has an abstract

method
In this example, Bike is an abstract class that contains only one abstract
method run. Its implementation is provided by the Honda class.
abstract class Bike
{
abstract void run();
}
class Honda extends Bike
{
void run()
{
 System.out.println("running safely");
}
}
class Car
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Bike obj = new
Honda(); obj.run();
}
}
running safely

Difference between abstract class and

interface
Abstract class and interface both are used to achieve abstraction where we can
declare the abstract methods. Abstract class and interface both can't be
instantiated.
But there are many differences between abstract class and interface that
are given below.

Abstract class Interface

1) Abstract class can have abstract Interface can have only abstract methods.
and non- abstract methods. Since Java 8, it can have default and static
methods also.
2) Abstract class doesn't support Interface supports multiple inheritance.
multiple inheritance.

3) Abstract class can have final, non- Interface has only static and final variables.
final, static and non-static variables.

4) Abstract class can Interface can't provide the

provide the implementation of abstract class.
implementation of
interface.
5) The abstract keyword is used to The interface keyword is used to declare
declare interface.
abstract class.

6) An abstract class can extend An interface can extend another Java

another Java class and implement interface only.
multiple Java interfaces.
7) An abstract class can be An interface can be implemented using
extended using keyword keyword "implements".
"extends".
8) A Java abstract class can have class Members of a Java interface are public by
members like private, protected, etc. default.

9)Example: Example:
public abstract class Shape{ public interface Drawable{
public abstract void draw(); void draw();
} }