Class-Based Inheritance
Class-based inheritance is a fundamental object-oriented programming (OOP) concept where a new class (called a subclass or derived class) inherits properties and methods from an existing class (called a superclass or base class). It enables code reusability and hierarchical organization by allowing subclasses to extend or override the behavior of their parent classes. This mechanism is central to modeling real-world relationships and building modular, maintainable software systems.
Developers should learn class-based inheritance when working with object-oriented languages like Java, C++, or Python to create scalable applications with clear hierarchies, such as in GUI frameworks, game development, or enterprise software. It is essential for implementing polymorphism, reducing code duplication, and designing systems where entities share common characteristics but have specialized behaviors, like in employee management systems or vehicle modeling.