|
| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +Title: 'Single Inheritance' |
| 3 | +Description: 'Explains single inheritance in Python, where one subclass inherits from a single parent class.' |
| 4 | +Subjects: |
| 5 | + - 'Python' |
| 6 | + - 'Object-Oriented Programming' |
| 7 | +Tags: |
| 8 | + - 'Classes' |
| 9 | + - 'Inheritance' |
| 10 | + - 'OOP' |
| 11 | +CatalogContent: |
| 12 | + - 'learn-python-3' |
| 13 | + - 'paths/computer-science' |
| 14 | +--- |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +**Single inheritance** is a foundational principle in object-oriented programming (OOP), where a class (known as the child or subclass) derives its behaviour and structure from one parent class (or superclass). This mechanism promotes code reusability and clear hierarchical design. |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +In Python, single inheritance is implemented by defining the subclass with the parent class name in parentheses. This allows the child class to use, override, or extend the functionality of its parent. |
| 19 | + |
| 20 | +## Syntax |
| 21 | + |
| 22 | +```python |
| 23 | +class ParentClass: |
| 24 | + # Methods and attributes of the parent class |
| 25 | + |
| 26 | +class ChildClass(ParentClass): |
| 27 | + # Inherits from ParentClass |
| 28 | + # Can override or add new functionality |
| 29 | +``` |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +- `ParentClass`: The class being inherited from. |
| 32 | +- `ChildClass`: The subclass that inherits behaviour. |
| 33 | +- The child class gains access to the parent’s members and can override or expand upon them. |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +## Example |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +```python |
| 38 | +class Animal: |
| 39 | + def speak(self): |
| 40 | + return "Makes a sound" |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | +class Dog(Animal): |
| 43 | + def speak(self): |
| 44 | + return "Barks" |
| 45 | + |
| 46 | +a = Animal() |
| 47 | +d = Dog() |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +print(a.speak()) # Output: Makes a sound |
| 50 | +print(d.speak()) # Output: Barks |
| 51 | +``` |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +### Explanation |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +- `Dog` inherits from the `Animal` class. |
| 56 | +- Both define a `speak()` method, but `Dog` overrides it to provide a more specific output. |
| 57 | +- This demonstrates how subclasses can customise inherited behaviour. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +## Codebyte Example |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +```codebyte/python |
| 62 | +class Vehicle: |
| 63 | + def start_engine(self): |
| 64 | + return "Engine started" |
| 65 | +
|
| 66 | +class Car(Vehicle): |
| 67 | + def drive(self): |
| 68 | + return "Car is driving" |
| 69 | +
|
| 70 | +my_car = Car() |
| 71 | +
|
| 72 | +print(my_car.start_engine()) # Inherited from Vehicle |
| 73 | +print(my_car.drive()) # Defined in Car |
| 74 | +``` |
| 75 | + |
| 76 | +## Diagram |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | +Visual structure of single inheritance: |
| 79 | + |
| 80 | +``` |
| 81 | ++-------------+ |
| 82 | +| Vehicle | |
| 83 | +|-------------| |
| 84 | +| start_engine| |
| 85 | ++------+------+ |
| 86 | + | |
| 87 | + ▼ |
| 88 | ++-------------+ |
| 89 | +| Car | |
| 90 | +|-------------| |
| 91 | +| drive | |
| 92 | ++-------------+ |
| 93 | +``` |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | +### Advantages of Single Inheritance |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +- **Reusability**: Shared logic lives in the parent class and can be used across multiple child classes. |
| 98 | +- **Modularity**: Logical separation of generic and specific behaviours. |
| 99 | +- **Simplicity**: Easier to trace inheritance paths and maintain codebases. |
| 100 | + |
| 101 | +> Use single inheritance when the subclass is a specialised form of the parent and there’s no need to inherit from multiple sources. |
| 102 | +
|
| 103 | +### Related Concepts |
| 104 | + |
| 105 | +* [Multiple Inheritance](../../inheritance.md) |
| 106 | +* [super() Function in Python](../../../built-in-functions/terms/super/super.md) |
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