How do I implement inheritance in Python?
Inheritance allows a class to inherit attributes and methods from another class. Use the syntax `class ChildClass(ParentClass):` to create a child class.
Inheritance is a core concept in object-oriented programming, allowing you to create a new class based on an existing class. This promotes code reuse and establishes a hierarchical relationship between classes. In Python, you can implement inheritance using the following syntax:
class ParentClass:
def parent_method(self):
print('This is a method from the parent class.')
class ChildClass(ParentClass):
def child_method(self):
print('This is a method from the child class.')
In this example, ChildClass
inherits from ParentClass
, meaning it has access to all methods and attributes of ParentClass
. You can also override methods in the child class to provide specific functionality:
class ChildClass(ParentClass):
def parent_method(self):
print('This method has been overridden in the child class.')
To call the parent class method from the child class, use super()
:
class ChildClass(ParentClass):
def child_method(self):
super().parent_method()
Inheritance can be single or multiple (a class can inherit from multiple parent classes). By leveraging inheritance, you can create more structured and maintainable code.