ME_INHERITANCE_JAVA

A Project Repository for Inheritance Byte in Java

Summary of Inheritance

• Why is it useful? - It helps separate out common functionality and fields so that they can be reused across many other classes cleanly. Avoids code redundancy.
• Where to apply? - In the code base when different objects need to share common fields and functionality.
• How to apply? - Define a parent class with all shared functionalities & child classes that inherit these from the parent class.
• What is the drawback if we don’t use inheritance? - Code duplication, Higher maintenance cost.

Types of Inheritance

• Types of Inheritance

• Single inheritance

• Multiple inheritance

• Hierarchical inheritance

• Multilevel inheritance

• Hybrid inheritance

Practical Scenarios

• Java Collections is a good example of application of inheritance.

• Java Exceptions is among one of the notable Class hierarchies displaying the effective use of inheritance.

General rules of Inheritance

• A class (child class) can extend another class (parent class) by inheriting its features.
• Implements the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) programming principle.
• Improves code reusability.

Inheritance vs Composition

• Composition is another way to reuse code from another class. It is achieved by creating a class containing instances of other classes that implement the desired functionality, rather than inheritance from a base or parent class.
• Further Reading:- Inheritance Vs Composition (veerpalbrar.github.io)

Encapsulation and Abstraction vs Inheritance

• Encapsulation and Abstraction are helpful to develop and maintain a big codebase.
• When there are similar objects in this big codebase that share common functionality, the common functionality and fields can be separated out into a separate base class which is then inherited by child classes.