6001104-3 Structured
Programming
L. Rafika Maaroufi
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Chapter6:
Inheritance
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Objectives
The notions of superclasses and
subclasses and the relationship
between them.
To use keyword extends to create a
class that inherits attributes and
behaviors from another class.
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Outline
Inheritance in java
Superclasses and Subclasses
Relationship between Superclasses and
Subclasses
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Inheritance in java
Inheritance in java :
is a mechanism in which one object acquires all
the properties and behaviors of a parent object
is one of the object-oriented programming (OOP)
primary capabilities.
is a mechanism for a modular and hierarchical
organization
allows the creation of hierarchical classifications
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A hierarchical design
A hierarchy involving architectural buildings
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Superclasses and Subclasses
In object-oriented terminology:
the existing class is typically described as
the base class, parent class, or superclass.
the newly defined class is known as the
subclass or child class.
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Superclasses and Subclasses
Inheritance examples:
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Superclasses and Subclasses
The subclass can differentiate itself from its
superclass in two ways:
It may augment the superclass by adding
new fields and new methods.
It may also specialize existing behaviors by
providing a new implementation that
overrides an existing method.
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Relationship between
Superclasses and Subclasses
“is a” relationship : is a correspondence
between levels
Examples:
(1) a house is a
building
Superclass:
building
Subclass: house
(2) a ranch is a
house.
Superclass: house
Subclass: ranch
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The “extends” keyword
Syntax of java Inheritance:
class Subclass-name extends Superclass-name
{
//methods and fields
}
The extends keyword indicates that you are making
a new class that derives from an existing class.
The meaning of "extends" is to increase the
functionality.
We say that the subclass extends the superclass.
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Java Inheritance Example
The relationship between the two classes is:
In Java Programmer IS-A Employee
Employee
Salary: float
Programmer
bonus: int
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Why use inheritance in java?
Method Overriding:
If subclass (child class) has the same method as declared in
the parent class, it is known as method overriding in Java.
In other words, it is used to provide the specific
implementation of a method which is already provided by
its superclass
Reusability:
is a mechanism which facilitates you to reuse the fields and
methods of the existing class when you create a new class.
You can use the same fields and methods already defined
in the previous class.
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Example:
Java Program to demonstrate why we need method
overriding
calling the method of parent
class with child class object
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Types of inheritance in java
There can be three types of inheritance in
java:
Class A Class A Class A
Class B Class C Class B Class B
hierarchical single
Class C
multilevel
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Single Inheritance Example
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Multilevel Inheritance Example
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Hierarchical Inheritance
Example
I
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References
Java: How to Program, 9e, Dietel and Dietel
, Pearson 0273759760
Data Structures and Algorithms in Java, 6th
edition, by M.T. Goodrich and R.
Tamassia. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., ISBN:
0-471-73884-0
Java The Complete Reference Ninth Edition
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