Inheritance vs. Polymorphism — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 16, 2024
Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class, promoting code reuse. Polymorphism enables objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass, enhancing flexibility and integration.
Difference Between Inheritance and Polymorphism
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Inheritance is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming where a new class, known as a subclass, derives properties and behaviors (methods) from an existing class, called the superclass. This mechanism allows for code reuse, as common functionalities defined in the superclass can be inherited by multiple subclasses, reducing redundancy and simplifying maintenance. Polymorphism, on the other hand, refers to the ability of different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through a common interface. It allows one interface to be used for a general class of actions, enabling methods to operate on objects of different classes without knowing their exact type.
Inheritance establishes a hierarchical relationship between classes, enabling shared functionality. Polymorphism leverages these relationships to interact with different objects through a uniform interface, enhancing code flexibility. While inheritance is primarily about code reuse and establishing relationships, polymorphism focuses on dynamic method resolution and the ability to use objects interchangeably.
Both inheritance and polymorphism are essential for creating modular, maintainable, and scalable object-oriented software. Inheritance simplifies code structure and reuse, while polymorphism provides the flexibility to handle different data types and behaviors through a unified interface.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Allows a class to inherit properties/methods from another class
Allows objects to be treated as instances of a common superclass
Purpose
Promotes code reuse and logical hierarchy
Enhances flexibility and integration
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Mechanism
Subclasses derive from superclasses
Method overriding and interface implementation
Relationship
Establishes "is-a" relationship
Supports "one interface, many implementations"
Example
Dog class inherits from Animal class
Dog and Cat objects treated as Animal
Code Reuse
High
Moderate
Dynamic Behavior
Less focus
High focus
Compare with Definitions
Inheritance
A mechanism where a new class derives properties and behaviors from an existing class.
In object-oriented programming, the Car class inherits from the Vehicle class.
Polymorphism
The ability of different objects to be treated as instances of the same class through a common interface.
Polymorphism allows a function to accept any object that implements a common interface.
Inheritance
Establishes a hierarchical relationship between classes.
The Manager class inherits from the Employee class, adding specific managerial functions.
Polymorphism
Enables dynamic method resolution at runtime.
With polymorphism, the method to be called is determined at runtime based on the object's type.
Inheritance
Enables extending or modifying existing functionality in derived classes.
The ElectricCar class extends the Car class by adding methods specific to electric vehicles.
Polymorphism
Supports method overriding, where a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method.
Polymorphism is illustrated when a Dog class overrides the makeSound method from the Animal class.
Inheritance
Provides a base structure that can be extended by subclasses.
Inheritance allows the Bird class to share common traits defined in the Animal superclass.
Polymorphism
Allows for more flexible and extensible code by using a common interface.
Through polymorphism, a single interface can handle multiple data types, enhancing code flexibility.
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time.
Polymorphism
Facilitates the use of objects interchangeably based on their common superclass.
Polymorphism allows a collection to hold different types of objects that share a common superclass.
Inheritance
The action of inheriting something
The inheritance of property from a relative.
Polymorphism
(Biology) The occurrence of more than one form, as several alleles of a particular gene or winged and wingless forms of the same species.
Inheritance
Something inherited or to be inherited
Her inheritance included a large estate.
Polymorphism
(Chemistry) Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Also called pleomorphism.
Inheritance
Something regarded as a heritage
The cultural inheritance of Rome.
Polymorphism
The ability to assume different forms or shapes.
Inheritance
The process of genetic transmission of characteristics from parent or ancestor to offspring.
Polymorphism
(biology) The coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.
Inheritance
A characteristic so inherited.
Polymorphism
(object-oriented programming) The feature pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions. en
Inheritance
The sum of genetically transmitted characteristics.
Polymorphism
The property of certain typed formal systems of allowing for the use of type variables and binders/quantifiers over those type variables; likewise, the property of certain expressions (within such typed formal systems) of making use of at least one such typed variable.
Inheritance
The passing of title to an estate upon death.
Polymorphism
(crystallography) The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism.
Inheritance
(countable) That which a person is entitled to inherit, by law or testament.
Polymorphism
(genetics) The regular existence of two or more different genotypes within a given species or population; also, variability of amino acid sequences within a gene's protein.
Inheritance
The act or mechanism of inheriting; the state of having inherited
The Indo-European languages share various similarities as a result of their inheritance from a common ancestor.
Polymorphism
Same as Pleomorphism.
Inheritance
The biological attributes passed hereditarily from ancestors to their offspring.
Polymorphism
The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form.
Inheritance
The mechanism whereby parts of a superclass are available to instances of its subclass.
Polymorphism
(chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound
Inheritance
The act or state of inheriting; as, the inheritance of an estate; the inheritance of mental or physical qualities.
Polymorphism
(biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)
Inheritance
That which is or may be inherited; that which is derived by an heir from an ancestor or other person; a heritage; a possession which passes by descent.
When the man dies, let the inheritanceDescend unto the daughter.
Inheritance
A permanent or valuable possession or blessing, esp. one received by gift or without purchase; a benefaction.
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.
Inheritance
Possession; ownership; acquisition.
To you th' inheritance belongs by rightOf brother's praise; to you eke 'longs his love.
Inheritance
Transmission and reception by animal or plant generation.
Inheritance
A perpetual or continuing right which a man and his heirs have to an estate; an estate which a man has by descent as heir to another, or which he may transmit to another as his heir; an estate derived from an ancestor to an heir in course of law.
Men are not proprietors of what they have, merely for themselves; their children have a title to part of it which comes to be wholly theirs when death has put an end to their parents' use of it; and this we call inheritance.
Inheritance
Hereditary succession to a title or an office or property
Inheritance
That which is inherited; a title or property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner
Inheritance
(genetics) attributes acquired via biological heredity from the parents
Inheritance
Any attribute or immaterial possession that is inherited from ancestors;
My only inheritance was my mother's blessing
The world's heritage of knowledge
Inheritance
Promotes code reuse by allowing common functionality to be shared among classes.
Using inheritance, we avoid duplicating the same code in multiple classes.
Common Curiosities
How does inheritance promote code reuse?
Inheritance allows subclasses to reuse common functionality defined in a superclass, reducing code duplication.
What is the main difference between inheritance and polymorphism?
Inheritance allows one class to inherit properties and methods from another class, while polymorphism allows different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through a common interface.
How does polymorphism enhance code flexibility?
Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be used interchangeably based on a common interface, making code more flexible and easier to extend.
Can a subclass inherit from multiple superclasses?
Some languages support multiple inheritance, allowing a subclass to inherit from multiple superclasses, but this can lead to complexity and ambiguity.
Can a class use both inheritance and polymorphism?
Yes, a class can inherit from a superclass and also override its methods to implement polymorphism.
Can polymorphism work without inheritance?
Polymorphism often relies on inheritance to provide a common interface, but it can also be achieved through interfaces in some languages.
What is an example of polymorphism in practice?
Polymorphism allows a function to accept different objects like Dog and Cat that share a common superclass Animal, enabling flexible code handling.
Can you give an example of inheritance in programming?
In programming, a Bird class can inherit from an Animal class, gaining its properties and methods while adding specific behaviors like fly.
Does inheritance imply a strict hierarchical relationship?
Yes, inheritance establishes a strict "is-a" relationship where subclasses derive from superclasses.
What is method overriding in polymorphism?
Method overriding occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass, enabling polymorphic behavior.
How does polymorphism affect method calls at runtime?
Polymorphism allows the method to be determined and invoked at runtime based on the actual object's type, supporting dynamic behavior.
Is inheritance always necessary for polymorphism?
While inheritance is commonly used to achieve polymorphism, some programming languages allow polymorphism through interfaces or protocols without strict inheritance.
What is the role of a superclass in inheritance?
A superclass provides the base properties and methods that can be inherited and extended by subclasses.
How do inheritance and polymorphism interact in object-oriented design?
Inheritance establishes class hierarchies and shared behavior, while polymorphism leverages these hierarchies to enable dynamic method resolution and flexible object interaction.
Why is inheritance considered a cornerstone of object-oriented programming?
Inheritance is fundamental to object-oriented programming as it promotes code reuse, logical class hierarchies, and the extension of existing functionality.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
