Types of Inheritance in Java

 

Java is a top-class coding language that bags excellent features, prominently for being an object oriented language. Under Java, one of the interesting aspects is the inheritances as they help in using properties efficiently. 

Moreover, inheritance allows us to use one class’ items into another, for the required output to come out.

When we learn about inheritance, we can’t deny the importance of its types. Be it hierarchical, multiple or hybrid inheritance in Java, every type performs a great role. 

To better understand the Inheritance types, read our article which will guide you through all the aspects of inheritance.

Introduction to Java

Java is both class and object oriented and that is why it is often referred to as the language that serves general purposes. Java aids programmers to write code and run it anywhere without worrying about a platform to support it. 

Due to its Java Virtual Machine, Java becomes platform-independent, meaning the Java Code works on all platforms.

Additionally, Java is simple to understand, safe and supports multithreading. Specifically, the inheritance property of Java is why it has been the most demanded programming language globally.

Inheritance in Java

Inheritance helps a particular class in the code to inherit properties of another class. With the help of inheritance, all the program’s information can be arranged in a hierarchical order. 

Additionally, Inheritance is one of OOPs concepts, where from a super class (parent), a new baby class can be created wholesomely.

Most significantly, inheritance helps the users to reuse the code as and when they want. The users needn’t have to sit and create a baby class from scratch with the characteristics. 

This is because when we derive a baby class from a parent class that has the required characteristics, automatically the baby class will also be the same as the parent class.

Terms related to Inheritance

When we want to indulge in the inheritance concept, we have to also study about some of the related terminologies. They are, 

• Class: A class is a group of objects that share the same properties. It practically is a rule print for all items.
  
  

• Subclass: Sub classes can be also called derived subclasses. They practically are the classes with properties taken from a super class. A sub class will add its own field even if it is derived.
  
  

• Super class: Super class is practically the root from where subclasses are created.
  
  

• Reusable: Inheritance makes it easy to use the code again and again without having to create new classes with the required properties. This feature saves a lot of time as well.

Relevance of Java Inheritance

Java inheritance packs many important uses and they’re all extremely beneficial. Some notable features are:

• Usually when duplicate codes arise, it will complicate a code. But with the help of inheritance, such errors can be minimized as the inheritance properties help in organizing the code in a good order.

• Due to the code being put out in a simple form, the execution becomes effective and easy.

• Inheritance makes it possible to make use of polymorphism as well. Polymorphism is the ability of a code to get displayed in various forms. 

Types of Inheritance 

Under inheritance, there are mainly five types that serve significant purposes for the benefit of deriving a class, and they are:

• Single 

• Multi-Level 

• Hierarchical 

• Multiple 

• Hybrid 

Single Inheritance

Forming a superclass right from a single base class is a single inheritance’s work. As there is a need for only one single class, both subclasses and superclass won’t have any clash.

Multi-level Inheritance

In this method, two or multiple classes will be involved. Firstly, a class takes in the parent class’ properties, then the created sub class becomes the base for the next class that is yet to be formed.

For eg: If the parent class is P1
The new class P2 will derive its content from P1.

Then to form P3, we do not inherit P1 properties but rather use P2, as the firstly formed subclass automatically becomes the base class for the third class.

Hierarchical Inheritance

Unlike the multiple inheritance, in an hierarchical inheritance, all the subclasses will derive the properties from the first parent class only. This method is a combination of inheritance types.

As the subclasses get their properties from the super class, polymorphism is possible in this method. 

Take for example: P1 is the parent class.

All the subclasses P2, P3, P4 will all take the parent class’ properties. This in turn creates polymorphism as a single parent class is produced in different forms with the same size.

Multiple Inheritance

Multiple Inheritance in Java is quite different because  in this method, there will be more than one super class (parent class). Moreover, a specific subclass can take in different features from all parent classes. It is similar to how a baby gets the personalities of both the mother and father. 

For eg:

If P1 and P2 are the parent classes, the newly created sub class P3 could take in the properties of both P1 and P2, without any limitation. 

Hybrid Inheritance

Hybrid is a mixture of single, multiple and hierarchical types. Due to multiple inheritance not backed by Java, hybrid inheritance in Java uses an interface. 

With the help of all these three combinations, the sub classes will inherit properties from all the parent classes. Moreover, the newly formed sub classes will have features like:

• All the methods and fields that a subclass takes in can be used straightforwardly.

• Whatever methods and fields that are not in the super class can be newly declared in the created sub class.

• Similar to the superclass, in the subclass, one can create a new instance (overriding).

• Another feature that can be possible is the “hiding” feature which allows us to start a static method freshly in the subclass even if it isn’t present in the super class.

Conclusion

We have successfully looked into the different types of Inheritance in Java. Notably, Hybrid inheritance in Java is said to be the most advanced as it packs three inheritance types and also brings in additional features.