Chapter 9

Inheritance

Java Software Solutions

Foundations of Program Design
Seventh Edition

John Lewis
William Loftus

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Inheritance
• Inheritance is a fundamental object-oriented design
technique used to create and organize reusable classes
• Chapter 9 focuses on:
– deriving new classes from existing classes
– the protected modifier
– creating class hierarchies
– abstract classes
– indirect visibility of inherited members
– designing for inheritance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Outline

Creating Subclasses
Overriding Methods
Class Hierarchies
Visibility
Designing for Inheritance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Inheritance
• Inheritance allows a software developer to derive a
new class from an existing one
• The existing class is called the parent class, or
superclass, or base class
• The derived class is called the child class or
subclass
• As the name implies, the child inherits
characteristics of the parent
• That is, the child class inherits the methods and
data defined by the parent class
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Inheritance
• Inheritance relationships are shown in a UML class
diagram using a solid arrow with an unfilled
triangular arrowhead pointing to the parent class
Vehicle

Car

• Proper inheritance creates an is-a relationship,

meaning the child is a more specific version of the
parent
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Inheritance
• A programmer can tailor a derived class as needed
by adding new variables or methods, or by
modifying the inherited ones

• One benefit of inheritance is software reuse

• By using existing software components to create

new ones, we capitalize on all the effort that went
into the design, implementation, and testing of the
existing software

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Deriving Subclasses
• In Java, we use the reserved word extends to
establish an inheritance relationship

public class Car extends Vehicle

{
// class contents
}

• See Words.java
• See Book.java
• See Dictionary.java

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//********************************************************************
// Book.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents a book. Used as the parent of a derived class to
// demonstrate inheritance.
//********************************************************************

public class Book

{
protected int pages = 1500;

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Pages mutator.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public void setPages (int numPages)
{
pages = numPages;
}

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Pages accessor.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public int getPages ()
{
return pages;
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

//********************************************************************
// Dictionary.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents a dictionary, which is a book. Used to demonstrate
// inheritance.
//********************************************************************

public class Dictionary extends Book

{
private int definitions = 52500;

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Prints a message using both local and inherited values.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public double computeRatio ()
{
return (double) definitions/pages;
}

continue

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continue

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Definitions mutator.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public void setDefinitions (int numDefinitions)
{
definitions = numDefinitions;
}

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Definitions accessor.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public int getDefinitions ()
{
return definitions;
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

//********************************************************************
// Words.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Demonstrates the use of an inherited method.
//********************************************************************

public class Words

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Instantiates a derived class and invokes its inherited and
// local methods.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Dictionary webster = new Dictionary();

System.out.println ("Number of pages: " + webster.getPages());

System.out.println ("Number of definitions: " +

webster.getDefinitions());

System.out.println ("Definitions per page: " +

webster.computeRatio());
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Output
//********************************************************************
// Words.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
// Number of pages: 1500
// Demonstrates theNumber
use ofofandefinitions: 52500
inherited method.
//********************************************************************
Definitions per page: 35.0
public class Words
{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Instantiates a derived class and invokes its inherited and
// local methods.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Dictionary webster = new Dictionary();

System.out.println ("Number of pages: " + webster.getPages());

System.out.println ("Number of definitions: " +

webster.getDefinitions());

System.out.println ("Definitions per page: " +

webster.computeRatio());
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Example: Modeling a Coffee Machine
VendingMachine
The class CoffeeMachine is
discovered first, then the class
SodaMachine, then the
superclass
VendingMachine

CoffeeMachine SodaMachine

totalReceipts totalReceipts
numberOfCups cansOfBeer
coffeeMix cansOfCola
collectMoney() collectMoney()
makeChange() makeChange()
heatWater() chill()
dispenseBeverage() dispenseBeverage()
addSugar()
addCreamer()
 Example: Modeling a Coffee Machine
VendingMachine
VendingMachine
totalReceipts
collectMoney()
makeChange()
dispenseBeverage()

SodaMachine
CoffeeMachine
totalReceipts totalReceipts
cansOfBeer
numtotalReceiptsberOfCups
coffeeMix cansOfCola

collectMoney() collectMoney() CoffeeMachine

SodaMachine
makeChange() makeChange()
numberOfCups
heatWater() chill() cansOfBeer
coffeeMix
dispenseBeverage()
dispenseBeverage() cansOfCola
addSugar() heatWater()
addCreamer() addSugar() chill()
addCreamer()
 An Example of a Specialization
CandyMachine is a new
VendingMachine product and designed as a sub
class of the superclass
totalReceipts VendingMachine
collectMoney()
makeChange()
dispenseBeverage() A change of names might now
be useful: dispenseItem()
instead of
dispenseBeverage() and
dispenseSnack()

CoffeeMachine
SodaMachine CandyMachine
numberOfCups
coffeeMix cansOfBeer bagsofChips
cansOfCola numberOfCandyBars
heatWater()
addSugar() chill() dispenseSnack()
addCreamer()
 Example of a Specialization (2)

Vending Machine
totalReceipts
collectMoney()
makeChange()
dispenseItem()

CoffeeMachine
SodaMachine
numberOfCups CandyMachine
coffeeMix cansOfBeer
cansOfCola bagsofChips
heatWater() numberOfCandyBars
addSugar() chill()
addCreamer() dispenseItem() dispenseItem()
dispenseItem()
The protected Modifier
• Visibility modifiers affect the way that class
members can be used in a child class

• Variables and methods declared with private

visibility cannot be referenced in a child class

• They can be referenced in the child class if they are

declared with public visibility -- but public variables
violate the principle of encapsulation

• There is a third visibility modifier that helps in

inheritance situations: protected

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The protected Modifier
• The protected modifier allows a child class to
reference a variable or method in the child class

• It provides more encapsulation than public visibility,

but is not as tightly encapsulated as private visibility

• A protected variable is also visible to any class in

the same package as the parent class

• Protected variables and methods can be shown

with a # symbol preceding them in UML diagrams
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Class Diagram for Words

Book
# pages : int
+ pageMessage() :
void

Words Dictionary
- definitions : int
+ main (args : String[]) :
void + definitionMessage() :
void

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The super Reference
• Constructors are not inherited, even though they
have public visibility
• Yet we often want to use the parent's constructor to
set up the "parent's part" of the object
• The super reference can be used to refer to the
parent class, and often is used to invoke the
parent's constructor
• A child’s constructor is responsible for calling the
parent’s constructor

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The super Reference
• The first line of a child’s constructor should use the
super reference to call the parent’s constructor

• The super reference can also be used to

reference other variables and methods defined in
the parent’s class
• See Words2.java
• See Book2.java
• See Dictionary2.java

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

//********************************************************************
// Book2.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents a book. Used as the parent of a derived class to
// demonstrate inheritance and the use of the super reference.
//********************************************************************

public class Book2

{
protected int pages;

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Constructor: Sets up the book with the specified number of
// pages.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public Book2 (int numPages)
{
pages = numPages;
}

continue

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continue

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Pages mutator.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public void setPages (int numPages)
{
pages = numPages;
}

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Pages accessor.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public int getPages ()
{
return pages;
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

//********************************************************************
// Dictionary2.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents a dictionary, which is a book. Used to demonstrate
// the use of the super reference.
//********************************************************************

public class Dictionary2 extends Book2

{
private int definitions;

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Constructor: Sets up the dictionary with the specified number
// of pages and definitions.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public Dictionary2 (int numPages, int numDefinitions)
{
super(numPages);

definitions = numDefinitions;
}

continue

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continue

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Prints a message using both local and inherited values.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public double computeRatio ()
{
return (double) definitions/pages;

// return (double) definitons/super.getPages();

}

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Definitions mutator.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public void setDefinitions (int numDefinitions)
{
definitions = numDefinitions;
}

//----------------------------------------------------------------
// Definitions accessor.
//----------------------------------------------------------------
public int getDefinitions ()
{
return definitions;
}
}
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
//********************************************************************
// Words2.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Demonstrates the use of the super reference.
//********************************************************************

public class Words2

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Instantiates a derived class and invokes its inherited and
// local methods.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Dictionary2 webster = new Dictionary2 (1500, 52500);

System.out.println ("Number of pages: " + webster.getPages());

System.out.println ("Number of definitions: " +

webster.getDefinitions());

System.out.println ("Definitions per page: " +

webster.computeRatio());
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Output
//********************************************************************
// Words2.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
// Number of pages: 1500
// Demonstrates theNumber
use of of
thedefinitions: 52500
super reference.
//********************************************************************
Definitions per page: 35.0
public class Words2
{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Instantiates a derived class and invokes its inherited and
// local methods.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Dictionary2 webster = new Dictionary2 (1500, 52500);

System.out.println ("Number of pages: " + webster.getPages());

System.out.println ("Number of definitions: " +

webster.getDefinitions());

System.out.println ("Definitions per page: " +

webster.computeRatio());
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Multiple Inheritance
• Java supports single inheritance, meaning that a
derived class can have only one parent class
• Multiple inheritance allows a class to be derived
from two or more classes, inheriting the members
of all parents
• Collisions, such as the same variable name in two
parents, have to be resolved
• Multiple inheritance is generally not needed, and
Java does not support it

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Outline

Creating Subclasses
Overriding Methods
Class Hierarchies
Visibility
Designing for Inheritance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Overriding Methods
• A child class can override the definition of an
inherited method in favor of its own

• The new method must have the same signature as

the parent's method, but can have a different body

• The type of the object executing the method

determines which version of the method is invoked

• See Messages.java
• See Thought.java
• See Advice.java
Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
//********************************************************************
// Thought.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents a stray thought. Used as the parent of a derived
// class to demonstrate the use of an overridden method.
//********************************************************************

public class Thought

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Prints a message.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public void message()
{
System.out.println ("I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a " +
"parallel universe.");

System.out.println();
}
}

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//********************************************************************
// Advice.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents some thoughtful advice. Used to demonstrate the use
// of an overridden method.
//********************************************************************

public class Advice extends Thought

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Prints a message. This method overrides the parent's version.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public void message()
{
System.out.println ("Warning: Dates in calendar are closer " +
"than they appear.");

System.out.println();

super.message(); // explicitly invokes the parent's version

}
}

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//********************************************************************
// Messages.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Demonstrates the use of an overridden method.
//********************************************************************

public class Messages

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Creates two objects and invokes the message method in each.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Thought parked = new Thought();
Advice dates = new Advice();

parked.message();

dates.message(); // overridden
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Output
//********************************************************************
// Messages.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
// I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
// Demonstrates the use of an overridden method.
Warning: Dates in calendar are closer than they appear.
//********************************************************************

public class
I feel Messages
like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Creates two objects and invokes the message method in each.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Thought parked = new Thought();
Advice dates = new Advice();

parked.message();

dates.message(); // overridden
}
}

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Overriding
• A method in the parent class can be invoked
explicitly using the super reference
• If a method is declared with the final modifier, it
cannot be overridden
• The concept of overriding can be applied to data
and is called shadowing variables
• Shadowing variables should be avoided because it
tends to cause unnecessarily confusing code

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Overloading vs. Overriding
• Overloading deals with multiple methods with the
same name in the same class, but with different
signatures
• Overriding deals with two methods, one in a parent
class and one in a child class, that have the same
signature
• Overloading lets you define a similar operation in
different ways for different parameters
• Overriding lets you define a similar operation in
different ways for different object types
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Quick Check
True or False?
A child class may define a method with
the same name as a method in the parent.
A child class can override the constructor
of the parent class.
A child class cannot override a final method
of the parent class.
It is considered poor design when a child
class overrides a method from the parent.
A child class may define a variable with the
same name as a variable in the parent.
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Quick Check
True or False?
A child class may define a method with True
the same name as a method in the parent.
A child class can override the constructor False
of the parent class.
A child class cannot override a final method True
of the parent class.
It is considered poor design when a child False
class overrides a method from the parent.
A child class may define a variable with the True, but
same name as a variable in the parent. shouldn't
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Outline

Creating Subclasses
Overriding Methods
Class Hierarchies
Visibility
Designing for Inheritance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Class Hierarchies
• A child class of one parent can be the parent of
another child, forming a class hierarchy

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Class Hierarchies
• Two children of the same parent are called siblings
• Common features should be put as high in the
hierarchy as is reasonable
• An inherited member is passed continually down the
line
• Therefore, a child class inherits from all its ancestor
classes
• There is no single class hierarchy that is
appropriate for all situations

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The Object Class
• A class called Object is defined in the
java.lang package of the Java standard class
library

• All classes are derived from the Object class

• If a class is not explicitly defined to be the child of

an existing class, it is assumed to be the child of
the Object class

• Therefore, the Object class is the ultimate root of

all class hierarchies
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The Object Class
• The Object class contains a few useful methods,
which are inherited by all classes

• For example, the toString method is defined in

the Object class

• Every time we define the toString method, we

are actually overriding an inherited definition

• The toString method in the Object class is

defined to return a string that contains the name of
the object’s class along with a hash code

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The Object Class
• The equals method of the Object class returns
true if two references are aliases
• We can override equals in any class to define
equality in some more appropriate way
• As we've seen, the String class defines the
equals method to return true if two String objects
contain the same characters
• The designers of the String class have overridden
the equals method inherited from Object in favor
of a more useful version

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Abstract Classes
• An abstract class is a placeholder in a class
hierarchy that represents a generic concept

• An abstract class cannot be instantiated

• We use the modifier abstract on the class header

to declare a class as abstract:

public abstract class Product

{
// class contents
}

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Abstract Classes
• An abstract class often contains abstract methods
with no definitions (like an interface)

• Unlike an interface, the abstract modifier must be

applied to each abstract method

• Also, an abstract class typically contains non-

abstract methods with full definitions

• A class declared as abstract does not have to

contain abstract methods -- simply declaring it as
abstract makes it so

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Abstract Classes
• The child of an abstract class must override the
abstract methods of the parent, or it too will be
considered abstract

• An abstract method cannot be defined as final or

static

• The use of abstract classes is an important element

of software design – it allows us to establish
common elements in a hierarchy that are too
general to instantiate

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Interface Hierarchies
• Inheritance can be applied to interfaces
• That is, one interface can be derived from another
interface
• The child interface inherits all abstract methods of
the parent
• A class implementing the child interface must define
all methods from both interfaces
• Class hierarchies and interface hierarchies are
distinct (they do not overlap)

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Quick Check
What are some methods defined by the Object
class?

What is an abstract class?

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Quick Check
What are some methods defined by the Object
class?
String toString()
boolean equals(Object obj)
Object clone()

What is an abstract class?

An abstract class is a placeholder in the class
hierarchy, defining a general concept and gathering
elements common to all derived classes. An abstract
class cannot be instantiated.

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Outline

Creating Subclasses
Overriding Methods
Class Hierarchies
Visibility
Designing for Inheritance

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Visibility Revisited
• It's important to understand one subtle issue related
to inheritance and visibility
• All variables and methods of a parent class, even
private members, are inherited by its children
• As we've mentioned, private members cannot be
referenced by name in the child class
• However, private members inherited by child
classes exist and can be referenced indirectly

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Visibility Revisited
• Because the parent can refer to the private
member, the child can reference it indirectly using
its parent's methods

• The super reference can be used to refer to the

parent class, even if no object of the parent exists

• See FoodAnalyzer.java
• See FoodItem.java
• See Pizza.java

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//********************************************************************
// FoodItem.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents an item of food. Used as the parent of a derived class
// to demonstrate indirect referencing.
//********************************************************************

public class FoodItem

{
final private int CALORIES_PER_GRAM = 9;
private int fatGrams;
protected int servings;

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Sets up this food item with the specified number of fat grams
// and number of servings.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public FoodItem (int numFatGrams, int numServings)
{
fatGrams = numFatGrams;
servings = numServings;
}

continue

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continue

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Computes and returns the number of calories in this food item
// due to fat.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
private int calories()
{
return fatGrams * CALORIES_PER_GRAM;
}

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Computes and returns the number of fat calories per serving.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public int caloriesPerServing()
{
return (calories() / servings);
}
}

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//********************************************************************
// Pizza.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Represents a pizza, which is a food item. Used to demonstrate
// indirect referencing through inheritance.
//********************************************************************

public class Pizza extends FoodItem

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Sets up a pizza with the specified amount of fat (assumes
// eight servings).
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public Pizza (int fatGrams)
{
super (fatGrams, 8);
}
}

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//********************************************************************
// FoodAnalyzer.java Author: Lewis/Loftus
//
// Demonstrates indirect access to inherited private members.
//********************************************************************

public class FoodAnalyzer

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Instantiates a Pizza object and prints its calories per
// serving.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Pizza special = new Pizza (275);

System.out.println ("Calories per serving: " +

special.caloriesPerServing());
}
}

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// FoodAnalyzer.java
Output
//********************************************************************
Author: Lewis/Loftus
// Calories per serving: 309
// Demonstrates indirect access to inherited private members.
//********************************************************************

public class FoodAnalyzer

{
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Instantiates a Pizza object and prints its calories per
// serving.
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
public static void main (String[] args)
{
Pizza special = new Pizza (275);

System.out.println ("Calories per serving: " +

special.caloriesPerServing());
}
}

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Outline

Creating Subclasses
Overriding Methods
Class Hierarchies
Visibility
Designing for Inheritance

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Designing for Inheritance
• As we've discussed, taking the time to create a
good software design reaps long-term benefits
• Inheritance issues are an important part of an
object-oriented design
• Properly designed inheritance relationships can
contribute greatly to the elegance, maintainability,
and reuse of the software
• Let's summarize some of the issues regarding
inheritance that relate to a good software design

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Inheritance Design Issues
• Every derivation should be an is-a relationship
• Think about the potential future of a class hierarchy,
and design classes to be reusable and flexible
• Find common characteristics of classes and push
them as high in the class hierarchy as appropriate
• Override methods as appropriate to tailor or change
the functionality of a child
• Add new variables to children, but don't redefine
(shadow) inherited variables

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Inheritance Design Issues
• Allow each class to manage its own data; use the
super reference to invoke the parent's constructor
to set up its data
• Override general methods such as toString and
equals with appropriate definitions
• Use abstract classes to represent general concepts
that derived classes have in common
• Use visibility modifiers carefully to provide needed
access without violating encapsulation

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Restricting Inheritance
• !!! If the final modifier is applied to a method, that
method cannot be overridden in any derived classes

• This is a design issue. In most of your programs you

don’t need to do such things (usually)

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Summary
• Chapter 9 focused on:
– deriving new classes from existing classes
– the protected modifier
– creating class hierarchies
– abstract classes
– indirect visibility of inherited members
– designing for inheritance
– extending listener adapter classes
– the Timer class

Copyright © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.