Python Inheritance

What is Inheritance in Python?

Inheritance is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows a class to inherit attributes and methods from another class. The class that inherits is called the subclass or derived class, and the class being inherited from is known as the superclass or base class.

Inheritance enables code reusability and can lead to a more logical and hierarchical class structure.

How to Implement Inheritance

In Python, inheritance is implemented by defining a subclass that takes the name of the superclass as a parameter. This allows the subclass to use the properties and methods of the superclass.

Below is a simple example to demonstrate inheritance in Python:

Method Overriding

Method overriding occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. This allows a subclass to modify or enhance the behavior of methods inherited from the superclass.

Here's an example of method overriding:

Using the super() Function

The super() function in Python is used to call methods from the superclass within the subclass. This is particularly useful when you want to extend the functionality of the inherited method.

Here's how you can use super():

Multiple Inheritance in Python

Python supports multiple inheritance, where a class can inherit from more than one base class. However, this should be used cautiously, as it can lead to complex and difficult-to-maintain code.

Here's a simple example of multiple inheritance: