📦 Inheritance in Python

Reusing Code with Parent and Child Classes

🔹 Definition

Inheritance in Python is an object-oriented programming concept where one class acquires the properties and methods of another class. In simple words, inheritance allows a new class to reuse existing code instead of writing everything again.

The existing class is called the parent (or base) class, and the new class is called the child (or derived) class. Inheritance makes programs more organized, reduces duplication, and improves maintainability.

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📌 Basic Syntax of Inheritance

class ParentClass:
  # parent class code
  pass

class ChildClass(ParentClass):
  # child class code
  pass

📂 Types of Inheritance in Python

Python supports five main types of inheritance.

1️⃣ Single Inheritance

Definition

Single inheritance means one child class inherits from one parent class.

Example
class Animal:
  def sound(self):
    print("Animals make sound")

class Dog(Animal):
  def bark(self):
    print("Dog barks")

d = Dog()
d.sound()
d.bark()
Explanation

Here, Dog inherits from Animal. The Dog class can use both its own method and the parent’s method.

2️⃣ Multiple Inheritance

Definition

Multiple inheritance means one child class inherits from more than one parent class.

Example
class Father:
  def skill1(self):
    print("Driving")

class Mother:
  def skill2(self):
    print("Cooking")

class Child(Father, Mother):
  pass

c = Child()
c.skill1()
c.skill2()
Explanation

The Child class gets features from both Father and Mother.

3️⃣ Multilevel Inheritance

Definition

Multilevel inheritance means a class is derived from another derived class.

Example
class Grandparent:
  def show1(self):
    print("Grandparent")

class Parent(Grandparent):
  def show2(self):
    print("Parent")

class Child(Parent):
  def show3(self):
    print("Child")

obj = Child()
obj.show1()
obj.show2()
obj.show3()
Explanation

Inheritance flows in levels, like a family tree.

4️⃣ Hierarchical Inheritance

Definition

Hierarchical inheritance means multiple child classes inherit from the same parent class.

Example
class Vehicle:
  def info(self):
    print("This is a vehicle")

class Car(Vehicle):
  pass

class Bike(Vehicle):
  pass

c = Car()
b = Bike()
c.info()
b.info()
Explanation

Both Car and Bike share the same parent but are different classes.

5️⃣ Hybrid Inheritance

Definition

Hybrid inheritance is a combination of two or more types of inheritance.

Example
class A:
  def showA(self):
    print("Class A")

class B(A):
  def showB(self):
    print("Class B")

class C(A):
  def showC(self):
    print("Class C")

class D(B, C):
  def showD(self):
    print("Class D")

obj = D()
obj.showA()
obj.showB()
obj.showC()
obj.showD()
Explanation

Hybrid inheritance mixes multilevel and multiple inheritance.

📌 Conclusion

Inheritance is one of the most powerful features of Python. It promotes code reuse, better structure, and easy maintenance. Understanding its types helps in designing clean and efficient programs.

🔑 Key Points to Remember

  • Inheritance allows code reuse
  • Child classes inherit parent features
  • Python supports five types of inheritance
  • Improves maintainability and structure
Abstraction in Python Polymorphism in Python