Java Inheritance (IS-A)

Syntax

class ChildClass extends ParentClass {
   // child class methods and variables
}

Example

A Bird class extending Animal class to inherit its properties.

class Animal {
   public void eat() {
      System.out.println("Animal is eating");
   }
}

class Bird extends Animal {
   public void fly() {
      System.out.println("Bird is flying");
   }
}

Output

Animal is eating
Bird is flying

Explanation

In Java, inheritance is a mechanism that enables one class to inherit the properties and methods of another. The extends keyword is used to indicate that one class is inheriting from another class. The class that is being inherited from is known as the superclass or parent class. The class that is inheriting is known as the subclass or child class.

The child class can access all the public and protected methods and variables of the parent class. In other words, the child class has access to all the non-private members of the parent class.

Use

Inheritance is a powerful feature in Java that allows developers to reuse code and organize their program in a more hierarchical way. Inheritance is useful when you have classes that share properties and behaviors. Instead of writing the same code multiple times, you can create a parent class with the shared properties and behaviors, and then create child classes that inherit from the parent class.

Important Points

• The extends keyword is used for inheritance in Java.
• Subclasses inherit all the public and protected methods and variables of the parent class.
• Inheritance is a powerful feature that allows developers to reuse code and organize their program in a more hierarchical way.

Summary

Inheritance is a fundamental concept in Java programming. It allows developers to reuse code and organize their program in a more hierarchical way. Inheritance is useful when you have classes that share properties and behaviors. The subclass inherits all the public and protected methods and variables of the parent class. Inheritance is a powerful feature that can simplify code and make it more efficient.