Python Inheritance

Python Inheritance Tutorial

Inheritance is an Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concept where a child class (subclass) inherits properties and methods from a parent class (superclass). This allows code reuse and better organization.

---

1. Creating a Basic Inheritance

A child class inherits all methods and attributes of a parent class.

Example: Basic Inheritance

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        return "Animals make sounds"

class Dog(Animal):  # Dog inherits from Animal
    pass

dog = Dog()
print(dog.speak())  # Output: Animals make sounds

✅ The Dog class inherits the speak() method from Animal.

---

2. Method Overriding

A child class can override a method of the parent class.

Example: Overriding Methods

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        return "Animals make sounds"

class Dog(Animal):
    def speak(self):  # Overriding the method
        return "Woof! Woof!"

dog = Dog()
print(dog.speak())  # Output: Woof! Woof!

✅ The speak() method is redefined in the Dog class.

---

3. Using the super() Function

The super() function calls a method from the parent class inside the child class.

Example: Using super() to Extend Functionality

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        return "Animals make sounds"

class Dog(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        parent_speak = super().speak()  # Calls parent method
        return parent_speak + " and Dogs bark!"

dog = Dog()
print(dog.speak())  
# Output: Animals make sounds and Dogs bark!

✅ super() helps call methods from the parent class inside the child class.

---

4. Inheriting the Constructor (__init__())

A child class can use the parent class constructor using super().

Example: Constructor Inheritance

class Animal:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

class Dog(Animal):
    def __init__(self, name, breed):
        super().__init__(name)  # Calling parent constructor
        self.breed = breed

dog = Dog("Buddy", "Labrador")
print(dog.name)   # Output: Buddy
print(dog.breed)  # Output: Labrador

✅ The Dog class inherits the name attribute from Animal using super().__init__().

---

5. Multilevel Inheritance

A child class can be a parent to another child class.

Example: Multilevel Inheritance

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        return "Animals make sounds"

class Dog(Animal):
    def bark(self):
        return "Dogs bark"

class Puppy(Dog):
    def weep(self):
        return "Puppies weep"

puppy = Puppy()
print(puppy.speak())  # Output: Animals make sounds
print(puppy.bark())   # Output: Dogs bark
print(puppy.weep())   # Output: Puppies weep

✅ The Puppy class inherits from Dog, which inherits from Animal.

---

6. Multiple Inheritance

A child class can inherit from multiple parent classes.

Example: Multiple Inheritance

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        return "Animals make sounds"

class Bird:
    def fly(self):
        return "Birds can fly"

class Parrot(Animal, Bird):
    pass

parrot = Parrot()
print(parrot.speak())  # Output: Animals make sounds
print(parrot.fly())    # Output: Birds can fly

✅ Parrot inherits from both Animal and Bird.

---

Conclusion

Inheritance allows code reusability and modularity, making it easier to build and maintain complex programs.

Share on Google Plus

About It E Research

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.