What is the Difference Between Inheritance and Interface in Java?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Inheritance and interface are two distinct concepts in Java that serve different purposes. Here are the key differences between them:
Inheritance:
- Inheritance is a mechanism in Java that allows one class to inherit features from another class.
- It is used to create a hierarchy between multiple classes by replicating some of the methods and properties from a base class to its child class.
- Inheritance promotes code reusability, as the child class can reuse the code from the parent class using the
override
method. - There are various types of inheritance in Java, such as single inheritance, multiple inheritance, multilevel inheritance, hybrid inheritance, and hierarchical inheritance.
- Inheritance is primarily used when you want to share functionality between classes.
Interface:
- An interface is a blueprint of a class, specifying what a class must do without specifying how it should be done.
- Interfaces can contain abstract methods ( studi 2021-12-03 21:35:08)
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Inheritance and Interface in Java? Comparative Table: Inheritance vs Interface in Java
Comparative Table: Inheritance vs Interface in Java
Here is a table comparing the differences between inheritance and interfaces in Java:
Feature | Inheritance | Interface |
---|---|---|
Description | Inheritance allows one class to inherit properties and methods of another class. | An interface is a blueprint of a class, specifying what a class must do without defining how. |
Definition | There can be only one base class and one derived class in both single and multiple inheritance in Java. | An interface can extend another interface, allowing multiple inheritance. |
Abstraction | Inheritance provides code reusability. | Interfaces provide abstraction and multiple inheritance. |
Methods | Inheritance allows a class to inherit the methods of its superclass. | Methods declared in an interface are by default abstract, with only the method signature and no body. |
Accessibility | Inheritance allows a subclass to access public and protected members of its superclass. | An interface can have public, protected, and private variables, but all methods are public by default. |
In summary, inheritance in Java is used to create a hierarchy between multiple classes by replicating some properties from others, while interfaces provide a mechanism for implementing abstraction and multiple inheritance. Inheritance allows one class to inherit properties and methods from another class, and interfaces allow multiple classes to share a common set of properties and methods without defining their implementation.
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