Inheritance refers to taking something that already exists. One of the key pillars of Java is Object-Oriented Programming, or OOPs, which has been leveraging its power and ease of use. An important aspect of OOPÂ (object-oriented Programming) is Inheritance, which allows one class to inherit all the features of another.
Table of contents:
- Introduction
- What is the inheritance of Java?
- Why is inheritance in Java required?
- Some crucial terminologies associated with Inheritance
- Categories of Inheritance
- Significant aspects regarding Inheritance
- An overview of METHOD OVERRIDING
- IS-A RELATIONSHIP
- Conclusion
Introduction
For a professional Java developer to succeed, you need to understand Java OOP concepts such as Inheritance, abstraction, encapsulation, and polymorphism flawlessly. Through this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of Java Inheritance, one of the most important concepts of OOP, and its significance.
What is Inheritance in JAVA?
Inheritance means acquiring the traits and characteristics of the previous generations. Similarly, Inheritance in Java means acquiring the properties from a particular class to another new class. We can understand it as a relationship of a mother with her child. Inheritance in Java is the same as a child acquiring traits of his mother.
The conceptualization here states that the basic properties and traits of the parent class can be applied to the newer class. It is like constructing a new class above the older class with the properties of the older class itself.
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Why is Inheritance required in JAVA?
Inheritance is much required in JAVA primarily because of the reusability of code. The code prepared under the superclass can be applied easily to all the sub-classes. This implies that just like a child has attributes of his mother, the sub-classes or the child classes can use the attributes of the superclass or the parent class.
Inheritance also allows for method overriding. Method overriding is nothing but skipping some steps in the subclass because those steps are already taken from the superclass. This saves time and rewriting those steps.
Inheritance also helps in abstraction. Abstraction is a case wherein only the critical points are displayed for the programmer. The unimportant items or details need to be displayed. For instance, a bike is displayed as a bike instead of showing its unimportant items.
Some crucial terminologies associated with Inheritance
Reusability: It states that the code from the parent or superclass can be reused as it is in the child class. It is the process of reusing the existing codes while creating a new class. For instance, if we have to prepare a program to make a bike, and the superclass already has a set of codes that were used to make a bike, then those codes can again be used to make the bike.
Class: A class is nothing but a prototype using which various objects are created. It is a group of objects that share some common attributes or similar characteristics or behavioral patterns that are identical to each other. It is not a real thing. It is a blueprint, or in other words, a template that carries attributes that help create new classes.
Child class: The term in itself states the characteristic of this class. As the term says, it is a class that takes attributes of another class. If some codes have to be inserted in a new class and those same codes are already present in another class, then those codes can be taken and used in the new class. This is the process of inheriting characteristics from a child’s class. A child class is also known as a sub-class or a derived class.
Parent class: Parent class or superclass is the class from which the codes are inherited. It is also referred to as the base class. The parent class has specific codes that newer classes can use in creating a program. The codes are hence reusable and save the programmer’s time.
Categories of Inheritance
Single Inheritance: Single Inheritance refers to the situation wherein the parent or superclass gives birth to only one child class. In other words, only one sub-class is created by inheriting the attributes or behavioral patterns of the superclass. In the case of single Inheritance, the subclass takes characteristics of only one parent class. There should not be more than one parent class under single Inheritance.
Multiple Inheritance: Unlike single Inheritance, in multiple Inheritance, the subclass can take attributes from several superclasses. This implies no restriction on inheriting attributes from only one superclass. A subclass can have attributes from more than one superclass under multiple Inheritance. This allows for greater variety in the sub-class. An important point to remember is that JAVA cannot directly support multiple inheritances. Multiple Inheritance can be accomplished through the use of interfaces.
Hierarchical Inheritance: We can understand it by an easy example. Like in a family, there is a hierarchy of generations in which the newest generation has genes or attributes of one of the oldest generations; in the same way, one superclass’s characteristics or behavioral patterns can be present in several sub-classes.
Multilevel Inheritance: This is an exciting form of Inheritance. Under Multilevel Inheritance, not only can the subclass take attributes from a superclass, but the same subclass can also be used as a superclass for other newer classes. For example, A is a superclass and inherits its attributes to its subclass B. Now, subclass B acts as a super class or parent class and allows a newer class C to inherit the properties of B. This way, class B simultaneously acted as a sub-class and a superclass. Class B can also be an intermediary between classes A and C.
Hybrid Inheritance: As the term suggests, it is a hybrid or a mixture of one or more inheritances. For example, multilevel Inheritance and single Inheritance can go hand in hand simultaneously. Like multiple Inheritance, hybrid Inheritance is also not supported directly by JAVA. Therefore, hybrid Inheritance can only be achieved with an interface.
Significant aspects regarding Inheritance:
Default superclass:Â Default superclass indicates that except for an Object class, every class has a direct parent class. This is similar to single Inheritance; wherein a subclass has directly one superclass from which it inherits attributes. Object class is an exception because it has no superclass of its own.
Superclass can only be one: This is one of the essential points to remember about Inheritance in JAVA. JAVA does not support multiple Inheritance. Therefore, a sub-class has only one superclass. However, this is different from the superclass. A superclass is privileged enough to have several sub-classes. However, as mentioned earlier, multiple Inheritance can be done with the help of an interface.
Inheriting constructors: As mentioned earlier, s child class can inherit all the members of its parent class, but instructors are not members of the superclass. Hence, they can not be inherited by the subclass. However, we can invoke the constructors present in the parent class from the child class.
Private member inheritance:Â A subclass or a child class can inherit all public attributes or characteristics of a parent class, but it can not inherit any personal attribute. It is not doable in JAVA. But there is a catch to it. If the personal characteristics of the superclass have any public method that helps in accessing those private attributes, then, in this case, the subclass can inherit those personal attributes with the help of public methods.
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An overview of METHOD OVERRIDING
The main advantage of Inheritance in Java is to achieve runtime polymorphism. Polymorphism in JAVA helps to execute a particular action in various ways by implementing the methods of a class in different ways. In a way, all the objects of JAVA are polymorphic. Polymorphism means “various forms,” and the same applies to methods in JAVA.
Polymorphism allows the subclass to inherit attributes from a parent class or a superclass and execute it in several different ways. Polymorphism happens only when Inheritance takes place.
IS-A RELATIONSHIP
The term may sound complicated and weird, but it is effortless. IS-A is just a notion. It is a way to say that a particular object is a form of a different object. JAVA inhibits an IS-A relationship where we say that subclass X is a form of a superclass Y because X inherits some attributes of the parent class Y. In other words, it tells that a subclass is identical to a superclass, and both classes share the same attributes or behavioral patterns.
Conclusion
It is difficult to predict the future of Java inheritance precisely, as it depends on many factors, such as the evolution of the Java language, the needs of developers, and the adoption of new programming paradigms. However, Inheritance is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming and is likely to continue to be an essential aspect of Java.
The use of Inheritance in Java will continue to evolve as the language, and the needs of developers change. Hopefully, the end of this article on “Inheritance in Java” has helped to add value to the knowledge regarding java inheritance, Its significance, and concepts of OOP, and you must have found it informative.
