Hybrid Inheritance In Java

Interface: In Java, an interface is a reference type which is similar to class. Basically, it is a collection of abstract methods. Classes in Java implement the interface(s) to inherit the abstract methods of the interface(s).

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Explanation:

Please refer to the above-given image for reference.

In the above-given example, class B(child class) extends(or inherits) class A(Base class) which is an example of Single inheritance and as Java does not support Multiple inheritances (using classes), we used an interface to implement multiple inheritances in Java. Class D extends class B and implements interface C which is an example of Multiple inheritances. As we have used both of these types of inheritance simultaneously in our program, it is referred to as Hybrid Inheritance in Java. This is how we easily used the properties of base classes(or interfaces) in the child classes.

Let us now see another way of implementing Hybrid Inheritance in Java.

Using Multilevel and Hierarchical Inheritance.

Before moving to the main example, let us quickly go through the concept of Multilevel and Hierarchical Inheritance in Java.

Multilevel Inheritance: When a child class inherits the properties and methods of a superclass and that superclass inherits another class, it's called Multilevel Inheritance, simple as that. Here's the diagrammatical representation of the same.

Hierarchical Inheritance: When more than one child class inherits the properties and methods of the same parent class, it's called Hierarchical Inheritance. Here's the diagrammatical representation of the same.

Code:

Output:

Explanation:

Please refer to the above-given image for reference.

In the above-given example, class C extends class B and class B extends class A(Base class), this is an example of Multilevel inheritance and class D extends class B while class C also extends class B, it simply means that multiple classes(like C and D) are extending the same super class (or parent class), altogether this is an example of Hybrid Inheritance in Java as more than one types of inheritance are getting implemented in the same program. Using this way we easily used the properties of base classes in the child classes.