Python Inheritance

Python tutorial · PySpark.in

What is Inheritance?

Inheritance allows a class (called the child class or derived class) to inherit the properties and methods of another class (called the parent class or base class). It helps in code reusability, extensibility, and maintaining a hierarchy between classes.

Why Use Inheritance?

To reuse code from existing classes.
To add or modify behavior without rewriting the parent class.
To make programs more organized and modular.

Syntax

class ParentClass:
 # parent class code
class ChildClass(ParentClass):
 # child class code

▶ Output will appear here.

Example: Single Inheritance

# Parent class
class Person:
 def __init__(self, name):
 self.name = name
 def show(self):
 print(f"Name: {self.name}")
# Child class inheriting from Person
class Student(Person):
 def __init__(self, name, roll):
 super().__init__(name)  # calling parent constructor
 self.roll = roll
 def details(self):
 print(f"Roll Number: {self.roll}")
# Creating object of child class
s1 = Student("Megha", 101)
s1.show() # method from parent class
s1.details() # method from child class

▶ Output will appear here.

Explanation

Person → Parent (Base) class
Student → Child (Derived) class
super().__init__(name) → calls the constructor of the parent class
The child class inherits the show() method and defines its own details() method.

Example: Multilevel Inheritance

class Grandparent:
 def grand_info(self):
 print("This is the Grandparent class.")
class Parent(Grandparent):
 def parent_info(self):
 print("This is the Parent class.")
class Child(Parent):
 def child_info(self):
 print("This is the Child class.")
# Object of Child
c = Child()
c.grand_info()
c.parent_info()
c.child_info()

▶ Output will appear here.

Example: Multiple Inheritance

class Teacher:
 def teach(self):
 print("Teaching students...")
class Mentor:
 def guide(self):
 print("Guiding students...")
# Child class inheriting from two parents
class Professor(Teacher, Mentor):
 def research(self):
 print("Doing research...")
p = Professor()
p.teach()
p.guide()
p.research()

▶ Output will appear here.

Python Inheritance

What is Inheritance?

Syntax

Example: Single Inheritance

Example: Multilevel Inheritance

Example: Multiple Inheritance

More Python tutorials