Single Inheritance
Single inheritance is an object-oriented programming (OOP) concept where a class can inherit properties and methods from only one parent class, forming a strict hierarchical structure. It promotes code reusability and a clear, linear class hierarchy, making it easier to understand and maintain relationships between classes. This contrasts with multiple inheritance, where a class can inherit from more than one parent class.
Developers should use single inheritance when designing systems that require straightforward, predictable class hierarchies without the complexity and ambiguity of multiple inheritance, such as in languages like Java or C#. It is ideal for modeling real-world relationships that are naturally hierarchical, like 'Employee' inheriting from 'Person', as it avoids issues like the diamond problem and simplifies method resolution. Learning it is essential for mastering OOP principles and working with languages that enforce or prefer this model.