Inheritance in java

What is Inheritance in Java?
Inheritance in Java is a technique/mechanism in which child class object can acquires all the properties and behavior of parent class object.It is an important part of OOP's concept in Java.

The purpose behind inheritance concept in Java is that we can create a new classes that are built upon existing classes.When we inherit(extends) from an existing class,we can reuse methods and fields of the parent class.

Note:We can add new methods and fields in our current class,we can develop our current class according to our requirement,no restrictions.

In JAVA Inheritance represents the IS-A relationship concept which is also known as  parent-child relationship.

Why Inheritance in Java

• If you want to override a method then Inheritance is the first requirement.
• Code Reusabiltiy.

Components of Inheritance
Class
A class is a blueprint from objects are created.

Child Class/Sub Class
Sub OR Child class is a class which inherits/extends the other class.It is also known as derived class.

Parent/Super Class
Super OR Parent class is a class from where a child class inherits the features.It is also known as Base Class.

Reusability
As the name says, reusabilty is a technique which allow us to reuse the fields and methods of an existing class when we creates a new classes. We can use the same fields and methods that is already defined in the parent class.

Standard Syntax of Java Inheritance

class Child/Sub_Class-Name extends Parent/Super_Class-Name

{

//methods and fields Depend on requirement

}

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The extends keyword ensures that we are creating a new class that derives from an existing class.The meaning of  extends keyword is to increase the functionality.
In other words a class which is inherited is known as Parent/Base Class,and a new class which is inheriting the properties of Base/Parent Class known as child class.

Java Inheritance Example
class Sport{
String sportName="CRICKET";
}
public class Mumbai extends Sport{
String msg="Mumbaikar's Best Sport is ";

 public static void main(String args[]){
    Mumbai m=new Mumbai();
    System.out.println(m.msg+m.sportName);
   }
}
output:
Mumbaikar's Best Sport is CRICKET
Note: In the above example Mumbai Class object can access it's own field i.e. msg as well as other class field i.e. sportName of  Sport class i.e., Code Reusability.

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Types of inheritance in Java

Note: Multiple Inheritance not supported in Java through Class.When one class inherits multiple classes known as Multiple inheritance.

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Single Inheritance Example
File Name: TestMain.java
class Sport{
String sportName="CRICKET";
}
class Mumbai extends Sport{
String msg1="Mumbaikar's Best Sport is ";
}
public class TestMain{
    public static void main(String args[]){
    Mumbai m=new Mumbai();
    System.out.println(m.msg1+m.sportName);
   }
}
output:
Mumbaikar's Best Sport is CRICKET

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Multilevel Inheritance Example
File Name: TestMain2.java
class Sport{
String sportName="CRICKET";
}
class Mumbai extends Sport{
String msg1="Mumbaikar's Best Sport is ";
}
class Delhi extends Mumbai{
 String msg2="Best sport of Delhi is ";
}
public class TestMain2{
   public static void main(String args[]){
    Delhi d=new Delhi();
    System.out.println(d.msg2+d.sportName);
   }
}
output:
Best sport of Delhi is CRICKET

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Hierarchical Inheritance Example
File Name: TestMain3.java
class Sport{
String sportName="CRICKET";
}
class Mumbai extends Sport{
String msg1="Mumbaikar's Best Sport is ";
}
class Delhi extends Sport{
 String msg2="Best sport of Delhi is ";
}
public class TestMain3{
  public static void main(String args[]){
  Delhi d=new Delhi();
  System.out.println(d.msg2+d.sportName);
  //but now below trying to access msg1 of Mumbai Class
  //System.out.println(d.msg1);//compile time error:msg1 can not be resolved or is not a field
   }
}
output:
Best sport of Delhi is CRICKET

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Multiple Inheritance Example
Multiple Inheritance not supported in Java!Why?

-To simplify and to reduce the complexity Multiple Inheritance not supported in Java.
-Consider the below example,we have three classes i.e., Mumbai,Delhi and TestMain4 with main method. And Mumbai and Delhi both have same msg() method.Here TestMain4 extends Mumbai and Delhi,  and if we try to call msg() method using the object of child class i.e. TestMain4 then there will be ambiguity to call the msg() method of Mumbai OR Delhi.

Since compile time error is better than run time error. So whether we have same or different method there will be compile time error if you try to extending two classes.see below example...

File Name: TestMain4.java
class Mumbai  {
   void msg(){
     System.out.println("Playing Cricket");
   }
}

class Delhi  {
   void msg(){
   System.out.println("Playing Cricket");
  }
}

public class TestMain4 extends Mumbai,Delhi  {
   public static void main(String args[]){
    TestMain4 obj=new TestMain4();
    obj.msg();//Now here which msg() method would be invoked
   }
}
output :compile time error

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Hope This Article Was Helpful.