Inheritance

ƒ A class can be a sub-type of another class

ƒ The inheriting class contains all the
methods and fields of the class it inherited
Inheritance from plus any methods and fields it defines
ƒ The inheriting class can override the
definition of existing methods by providing
its own implementation
ƒ The code of the inheriting class consists
only of the changes and additions to the
base class
Version 2 - June 2008

Example Overriding
ƒ Class Employee{ ƒ Class Vector{
string name;
double wage;
int vect[20];
void incrementWage(){…} void add(int x) {…}
} }
ƒ Class Manager extends Employee{ ƒ Class OrderedVector extends Vector{
string managedUnit;
void changeUnit(){…} void add(int x){…}
} }
ƒ Manager m = new Manager();
m.incrementWage(); // OK, inherited
Why inheritance
ƒ Frequently, a class is merely a modification
of another class. In this way, there is
minimal repetition of the same code
ƒ Localization of code
Š Fixing a bug in the base class automatically fixes
it in the subclasses
Š Adding functionality in the base class
automatically adds it in the subclasses
Š Less chances of different (and inconsistent)
implementations of the same operation
Inheritance in real Life
ƒ A new design created by the
modification of an already existing
design
Š The new design consists of only the
changes or additions from the base
design
ƒ CoolPhoneBook inherits PhoneBook
Š Add mail address and cell number

Example of inheritance tree Inheritance terminology

ƒ Class one above
Living species

Š Parent class
ƒ Class one below
Animal vegetal

Human being Š Child class

Professor
Flower ƒ Class one or more above
SalesMan Š Superclass, Ancestor class, Base class
Student
ƒ Class one or more below
Travel Agent Š Subclass, Descendent class
Inheritance and polymorphism Inheritance and polymorphism
Class Employee{
private string name; Employee e1 = new Employee();
ƒ Employee e1 = new Employee();
public void print(){ Employee e2 = new Manager();
System.out.println(name); e1.print(); // name ƒ Employee e2 = new Manager(); //ok, is_a
} e2.print(); // name and unit ƒ e1.print(); // name
}
ƒ e2.print(); // name and unit
Class Manager extends Employee{
private string managedUnit;

public void print(){ //overrides

System.out.println(name); //un-optimized!
System.out.println(managedUnit);
}
}

Inheritance in few words Inheritance in Java: extends

class
class Car
Car {{
ƒ Subclass String
Car String color;
color;
Š Inherits attributes and methods
boolean
boolean isOn;
isOn;
color String
String licencePlate;
licencePlate;
Š Can modify inherited attributes and
isOn
licencePlate void
void paint(String
paint(String color)
color) {{
methods (override) turnOn
paint }}
this.color = color;
this.color = color;
class
class ElectricCar
ElectricCar extends
extends Car
Š Can add new attributes and methods
Car
void turnOn() { {{
void turnOn() {
isOn=true;
isOn=true;
}} boolean
boolean cellsAreCharged;
cellsAreCharged;
ElectricCar }} void
void recharge()
recharge() {{
cellsAreCharged
cellsAreCharged == true;
true;
cellsAreCharged }}
recharge
turnOn
void
void turnOn()
turnOn() {{
if(cellsAreCharged
if(cellsAreCharged ))
isOn=true;
isOn=true;
}}
}}
11 12
Inheritance in Java: extends ElectricCar
class
class Car
Car {{
String
ƒ Inherits
Car String color;
color;
color
boolean
boolean isOn;
String
isOn;
String licencePlate;
licencePlate;
Š attributes (color, isOn, licencePlate)
Š methods (paint)
isOn
licencePlate void
void paint(String
paint(String color)
color) {{
ƒ Modifies (overrides)
turnOn this.color
this.color == color;
color;
paint }}
class
class ElectricCar
ElectricCar extends
extends Car
Car
void turnOn() {{ {
void turnOn()
isOn=true;
{
Š turnOn()
isOn=true;
ƒ Adds
}} boolean
boolean cellsAreCharged;
cellsAreCharged;
ElectricCar }} void
void recharge() {{
recharge()
Š attributes (cellsAreCharged)
cellsAreCharged
cellsAreCharged == true;
true;
cellsAreCharged }}
recharge
turnOn
void
void turnOn()
turnOn() {{
Š Methods (recharge)
if(cellsAreCharged
if(cellsAreCharged ))
isOn=true;
isOn=true;
}}
}}
13 14

Example
class Employee {
private String name;
private double wage;
}
Visibility (scope)
class Manager extends Employee {

void print() {
System.out.println(“Manager” +
name + “ ” + wage);
}
}
Not visible
16
Protected In summary
ƒ Attributes and methods marked as Method of
Method of
another
Š public are always accessible Method in another Method
public class
the same class in the of
in the
Š private are accessible within the class class same subclass
outside
only package
world
Š protected are accessible within the class
and its subclasses
private 9
package 9 9
protected 9 9 9
public 9 9 9 9
17

Super (reference) Example

class
class Car
Car {{
ƒ “this” is a reference to the current String
String color;
object
Car color;
boolean
boolean isOn;
isOn;
color String
String licencePlate;
licencePlate;
ƒ “super” is a reference to the parent
isOn
licencePlate void
void paint(String
paint(String color)
color) {{
class turnOn
paint }}
this.color = color;
this.color = color;
class
class ElectricCar
ElectricCar extends
extends Car{
Car{
void turnOn()
void turnOn() {{
isOn=true; boolean
boolean cellsAreCharged;
cellsAreCharged;
isOn=true;
}}
ElectricCar }} void
void recharge()
recharge() {{
cellsAreCharged
cellsAreCharged == true;
true;
cellsAreCharged }}
was void
recharge
if(cellsAreCharged) void turnOn()
turnOn() {{
turnOn if(
if( cellsAreCharged
cellsAreCharged ))
isOn = true; super.turnOn();
super.turnOn();
}}
}}
19 20
Attributes redefinition
ƒ Class Parent{
protected int attr = 7;

Inheritance and
}
ƒ Class Child{
protected String attr = “hello”;

void print(){ constructors

System.out.println(super.attr);
System.out.println(attr);
}

public static void main(String args[]){

Child c = new Child();
c.print();
}
}

21

Construction of child objects Construction of child objects

ƒ Since each object “contains” an
instance of the parent class, the latter
must be initialized
ƒ Java compiler automatically inserts a
call to default constructor (no params)
of parent class
ƒ The call is inserted as the first
statement of each child constructor
ƒ Execution of constructors proceeds
top-down in the inheritance hierarchy
ƒ In this way, when a method of the
child class is executed (constructor
included), the super-class is
completely initialized already

23 24
Example Example (cont’d)
class
class ArtWork
ArtWork {{
ArtWork()
ArtWork() {{
System.out.println(“New Cartoon obj = new Cartoon();
System.out.println(“New ArtWork”);
ArtWork”); }}
}}

class
class Drawing
Drawing extends
extends ArtWork
ArtWork {{
Drawing() new
new ArtWork
ArtWork
Drawing() {{
System.out.println(“New
System.out.println(“New Drawing”);
Drawing”); }}
new
new Drawing
Drawing
}} new
new Cartoon
Cartoon

class
class Cartoon
Cartoon extends
extends Drawing
Drawing {{
Cartoon()
Cartoon() {{
System.out.println(“New
System.out.println(“New Cartoon”);
Cartoon”); }}
}}
25 26

A word of advice Super

ƒ Default constructor “disappears” if ƒ If you define custom constructors
custom constructors are defined with arguments
class
class Parent{
Parent{ ƒ and default constructor is not defined
explicitly
Parent(int
Parent(int i){}
i){}
}}
class
class Child
Child extends
extends Parent{
Parent{ }}
// error!
// error! class
class Parent{
Parent{ Î the compiler cannot insert the call
automatically
Parent(int
Parent(int i){}
i){}
Parent(){}
Parent(){} //explicit
//explicit default
default
}}
class
class Child
Child extends
extends Parent
Parent {{ }}
// ok!
// ok!
27 28
Super Example
ƒ Child class constructor must call the class
class Employee
Employee {{

right constructor of the parent class,

private
private String
String name;
name;
private
private double wage;
double wage;
explicitly ???
???
Employee(String
Employee(String n, n, double
double w){
w){
name
name == n;
n;
wage
wage == w;
w;
ƒ Use super() to identify constructors of }} class
class Manager
Manager extends
extends Employee
Employee {{
parent class
}} private
private int
int unit;
unit;

Manager(String
Manager(String n, n, double
double w,
w, int
int u)
u) {{
super();
super(); ERROR
ERROR !!!
!!!
ƒ First statement in child constructors
unit
unit == u;
u;
}}
}}

29 30

Example
class
class Employee
Employee {{
private
private String
String name;
name;

Dynamic binding/
private double wage;
private double wage;

polymorphism
Employee(String
Employee(String n,
n, double
double w){
w){
name
name == n;
n;
wage
wage == w;
w;
}} class
class Manager
Manager extends
extends Employee
Employee {{
}} private
private int
int unit;
unit;

Manager(String
Manager(String n,
n, double
double w,
w, int
int u)
u) {{
super(n,w);
super(n,w);
unit
unit == u;
u;
}}
}}

31
Example Binding
ƒ Car[] garage = new Car[4]; ƒ Association message/method
ƒ garage[0] = new Car(); ƒ Constraint Car

ƒ garage[1] = new ElectricCar(); Š Same signature

color
isOn

ƒ garage[2] = new ElectricCar(); licencePlate

Car a; turnOn

ƒ garage[3] = new Car(); for(int i=0; i<garage.length; i++){

paint

a = garage[i]
a.turnOn();
ƒ for(int i=0; i<garage.length; i++){ } ElectricCar

garage[i].turnOn(); cellsAreCharged

} message method recharge

turnOn

33 34

Java Object
ƒ java.lang.Object
ƒ All classes are subtypes of Object

Object
Object

extends Object Implicitly

class
class Vertebrate
Vertebrate {{
Vertebrate
hasSpine ……
}}

class
class Bird
Bird extends
extends Vertebrate{
Vertebrate{
Bird
……
canFly }}

36
Java Object Java Object
ƒ Each instance can be seen as an Object
ƒ toString()
instance (see Collection)
Š Returns a string
uniquely identifying
ƒ Object defines some services, which are the object
Object
useful for all classes
toString() : String
ƒ Often, they are overridden in sub-classes ƒ equals() equals(Object) : boolean
Š Tests equality of
Object values
toString() : String
equals(Object) : boolean

37 38

System.out.print( Object )
ƒ print methods implicitly invoke
toString() on all object parameters
class Car{ String toString(){…} }

Casting
Car c = new Car();
System.out.print(c); // same as...
... System.out.print(c.toString());
ƒ Polymorphism applies when toString() is
overridden
Object ob = c;
System.out.print(ob); // Car’s toString() is called

39
Types Specialization
ƒ Java is a strictly typed language, i.e., ƒ Things change slightly
each variable has a type
ƒ Normal case…

ƒ float f;
f = 4.7; // legal class Car{};
f = “string”; // illegal class ElectricCar extends Car{};
Car c = new Car();
ƒ Car c;
ElectricCar ec = new ElectricCar ();
c = new Car(); // legal
c = new String(); // illegal

41 42

Specialization - 2 Specialization - 3
ƒ New case… ƒ Legal!
Š Specialization defines a sub-typing
class Car{}; relationship (is a)
class ElectricCar extends Car{}; Š ElectricCar type is a subset of Car type
Car a = new ElectricCar (); // legal?? Car

Car(s)

ElectricCar(s) ElectricCar

All electric cars are cars too

43 44
Cast Upcast
ƒ Type conversion (explicit or ƒ Assignment from a more specific type
(subtype) to a more general type (supertype)
implicit) class Car{};
class ElectricCar extends Car{};
ƒ int i = 44; Car c = new ElectricCar ();
ƒ float f = i;
// implicit cast 2c -> fp ƒ Note well - reference type and object type
are separate concepts
ƒ f = (float) 44; Š Object referenced by ‘c’ continues to be of
// explicit cast ElectricCar type

45 46

Upcast Downcast
ƒ It is dependable ƒ Assignment from a more general type
Š It is always true that an electric car is a car too (super-type) to a more specific type
ƒ It is automatic (sub-type)
Š As above, reference type and object type
Car c = new Car();
ElectricCar ec = new ElectricCar (); do not change
c = ec;

ƒ MUST be explicit
Š It’s a risky operation, no automatic
ec
c
3 2
Up-casting: 1 conversion provided by the compiler (it’s
Object type does NOT change up to you!)
ElectricCar
Car

47 48
Downcast - Example I Dowcast – Example II

Car
Car cc == new
new ElectricCar();
ElectricCar(); //
// impl.
impl. upcast Car
Car cc == new
new Car();
upcast Car(); Run-time error
c.recharge();
c.recharge(); //
// wrong!
wrong! c.rechage();
c.rechage(); //
// wrong!
wrong!

//
// explicit
explicit downcast
downcast //
// explicit
explicit downcast
downcast
ElectricCar
ElectricCar ec
ec == (ElectricCar)c;
(ElectricCar)c; ElectricCar
ElectricCar ec
ec == (ElectricCar)c;
(ElectricCar)c;

ec.recharge();
ec.recharge(); //
// ok
ok ec.recharge();
ec.recharge(); //
// wrong!
wrong!

YOU know they are compatible types YOU might be wrong (risk)
(compiler trusts you)

49 50

Visually Messy example

ec2
ƒ All electric cars are cars too Car c, cc;
ElectricCar ec, ec2; c cc ec
ƒ Not all cars are electric cars are too c = new Car (); // 1 5
3
c. recharge(); // NO 2

1 4
Car
ec = new ElectricCar (); // 2
Car(s) ec.recharge() // ok
downcast ElectricCar
upcast
cc = c; // 3
Car
ElectricCar(s) ElectricCar
c= ec; // 4 Upcasting
c. recharge(); // NO

51 52
Messy example (cont’d) Avoid wrong down-casting
ec2
ec2 = c; // NO Downcast
ƒ Use the instanceof operator
ec2 = (ElectricCar) c; // 5, OK cc
ec2. recharge(); // OK 5
3
ƒ Car c = new Car();
ec2 = (ElectricCar ) cc ; // 6 6
ElectricCar ec;
ec2.recharge(); // runtime error

ElectricCar if (c instanceof ElectricCar ){

Car ec = (ElectricCar) c;
ec.recharge();
}
was
((ElectricCar)c).recharge();

53 54

Upcast to Object
ƒ Each class is either directly or
indirectly a subclass of Object
ƒ It is always possible to upcast any
instance to Object type (see Abstract classes
Collection)
AnyClass foo = new AnyClass();
Object obj;
obj = foo;

55
Abstract class Abstract modifier
ƒ Often, superclass is used to define public
public abstract
abstract class
class Shape
Shape {{
common behavior for many child
classes
privte
privte int
int color;
color;

ƒ But the class is too general to be public

public void
void setColor(int
setColor(int color){
this.color
color){
this.color == color;
instantiated
color;
}}
ƒ Behavior is partially left unspecified //
// to
to be
be implemented
implemented in
in child
child classes
classes
(this is more concrete than interface) public
public abstract
abstract void
void draw();
draw();
}}
No
method
body

57 58

Abstract modifier

public
public class
class Circle
Circle extends
extends Shape
Shape {{
public
public void
void draw()
draw() {{
}}
//
// body goes here
body goes here Interface
}}

Object
Object aa == new
new Shape();
Shape(); //
// Illegal
Illegal
Object
Object aa == new
new Circle();
Circle(); //
// OK
OK

59
Java interface Example
ƒ An interface is a special type of “class” <<interface>>
Comparable
where methods and attributes are
isEqual(String) : boolean
implicitly public
Š Attributes are implicitly static and final
Š Methods are implicitly abstract (no body) Car Employee

String licencePlate String name

ƒ Cannot be instantiated (no new) isEqual(String) : isEqual(String) :
boolean boolean
ƒ Can be used to define references

61 62

Example (cont’d) Example

public
public interface
interface Comparable
Comparable {{ public
void public class
class Foo
Foo {{
void isEqual(String
isEqual(String s);
s); private
private Comparable objects[];
Comparable objects[];
}} public
public Foo(){
Foo(){
Public
Public objects
objects == new
new Comparable[3];
Comparable[3];
objects[0]
objects[0] == new
new Employee();
Employee();
public
public class
class Car
Car implements
implements Comparable
Comparable {{ objects[1]
private String licencePlate; objects[1] == new
new Car();
Car();
private String licencePlate; objects[2]
objects[2] == new
new Employee();
Employee();
public
public void
void isEqual(String
isEqual(String s){
s){ }}
return licencePlate.equals(s);
return licencePlate.equals(s); public
}} public Comparable
Comparable find(String
find(String s){
s){
for(int
for(int i=0; i< objects.length; i++)
i=0; i< objects.length; i++)
}} public
public class
class Employee
Employee implements
implements Comparable{
Comparable{ if(objects[i].isEqual(s)
private String name; if(objects[i].isEqual(s)
private String name; return
return objects[i];
objects[i];
public
public void
void isEqual(String
isEqual(String s){
s){ }}
return name.equals(s);
return name.equals(s); }}
}}
}}
63 64
Rules (interface) Rules (class)
ƒ An interface can extend another ƒ A class can extend only one class
interface, cannot extend a class ƒ A class can implement multiple
interface Bar extends Comparable {
interfaces
void print();
} interface

ƒ An interface can extend multiple class Person

interfaces extends Employee
implements Orderable, Comparable {…}
interface Bar extends Orderable,
Comparable{
...
interfaces
}

65 66

A word of advice Homework

ƒ Defining a class that contains abstract
ƒ See the doc of java.lang.Comparable
methods only is not illegal
Š You should use interfaces instead
public interface Comparable{
ƒ Overriding methods in subclasses can
int compareTo(Object obj);
maintain or extend the visibility of
}
overridden superclass’s methods
Š e.g. protected int m() can’t be overridden by
ƒ Returns a negative integer, 0, or a
– private int m()
positive integer as this object is less
– int m()
than, equal, or greater than obj
Š Only protected or public are allowed
67 68
Homework (cont’d) Homework (cont’d)
ƒ Define Employee, which implements public static void main(String args[]){
Comparable (order by ID) int size = 3; // array size
OrderedArray oa = new OrderedArray(size);
ƒ Define OrderedArray class
oa.add( new Employee(“Mark”, 37645) );
Š void add(Comparable c) //ordered insert oa.add( new Employee(“Andrew”, 12345) );
Š void print() //prints out oa.add( new Employee(“Sara”, 97563) );

oa.print(); Name ID
ƒ Test it with the following main }

69 70

Wrap-up session Wrap-up session

ƒ Inheritance ƒ Polymorphism
Š Objects defined as sub-types of already existing
objects. They share the parent data/methods Š The same message can produce different
without having to re-implement behavior depending on the actual type of
ƒ Specialization the receiver objects (late binding of
Š Child class augments parent (e.g. adds an message/method)
attribute/method)
ƒ Overriding
Š Child class redefines parent method
ƒ Implementation/reification
Š Child class provides the actual behaviour of a
parent method
Wrap-up session
ƒ Polymorphism
Š The same message can produce different
behavior depending on the actual type of
the receiver objects (late binding of
message/method)