Before reading this, I would recommend you to check my other article on Java Inheritance, in this article, I am going to explain only types of Java inheritance
There are various types of java inheritance

• Single inheritance
• Multilevel inheritance
• Hierarchical inheritance
• Multiple inheritance ( it is not possible with class )

Java: Single inheritance

When a class is derived from other class then it is called as a single inheritance, check the below diagram the scooter class is extending only from the motorcycle class only, here, the parent class for scooter class is only the motorcycle and the child class for motorcycle is only scooter class

Example: Superclass or parent class

The Motorcycle class which is a superclass for scooter class contains three methods and two fields

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public class Motorcycle {
	public int noOfGears = 3;
	private int maxSpeed = 200;
	public Motorcycle() {
	}
	public void applyBrake() {
		System.out.println("Motorcycle : apply brake");
	}
	public int getMaxSpeed() {
		return maxSpeed;
	}
	public static void start() {
	}
}

Child class

here, the scooter class extending from only motorcycle class and overriding applyBrake method, you can call parent class method’s using super keyword

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public class Scooter extends Motorcycle {
	@Override
	public void applyBrake() {
		super.applyBrake();
		System.out.println("Override apply brake method...");
	}
	public static void start() {
		System.out.println("start...");
	}
}

Output:

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public class SingleInheritanceTest {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Scooter scooter = new Scooter();
		Scooter.start();
		System.out.println("Max Speed: " + scooter.getMaxSpeed());
		scooter.applyBrake();
	}
}
Output :
start...
Max Speed: 200
Motorcycle : apply brake
Override apply brake method...

Java: Multilevel inheritance

If you see the below example the Motorcycle is derived from the vehicle class and the scooter is derived from the motorcycle class, the parent class for scooter is motorcycle and the parent class for motorcycle is vehicle class
 

In the above example, I have added a new class which is a vehicle class and it contains a new method called changeGear(), you can access this method by creating object for motorcycle class because it extends vehicle class
Can we not access changeGear() method of vehicle class using scooter object, yes you can access this because it extends motorcycle class and the motorcycle class extends vehicle class

Multilevel inheritance example:

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public  class Vehicle {
	public Vehicle() {
	}
	public void changeGear() {
		System.out.println("Change gear...");
	}
}
public class Motorcycle extends Vehicle {
	public Motorcycle() {
	}
	public void applyBrake() {
		System.out.println("Motorcycle : apply brake");
	}
}
public class Scooter extends Motorcycle {
	@Override
	public void applyBrake() {
		System.out.println("Override apply brake method...");
	}
	public static void start() {
		System.out.println("start...");
	}
}

Output:

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public class MulitlevelInheritanceTest {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Scooter scooter = new Scooter();
                // call override method of motrocycle class
		scooter.applyBrake();
                // call vehicle class method
		scooter.changeGear();
	}
}
output:
Override apply brake method...
Change gear...

Java: Hierarchical inheritance

In the below example the scooter, standard bike, and sports bike are derived from the motorcycle class, the motorcycle is parent class for all three classes

Example: Hierarchical inheritance

If you see the below code the sports bike is extended from motorcycle and did not override any method but, the scooter class also extends from the motorcycle and applyBrake method is overridden

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public class Motorcycle extends Vehicle {
	public Motorcycle() {
	}
	public void applyBrake() {
		System.out.println("Motorcycle : apply brake");
	}
}
public class Scooter extends Motorcycle {
	@Override
	public void applyBrake() {
		System.out.println("Scooter: Override apply brake method...");
	}
	public static void start() {
		System.out.println("start...");
	}
}
public class SportBike extends Motorcycle {
	public static void start() {
		System.out.println("start...");
	}
}

Output:

package com.keysandstrokes.examples.inheritanceexamples;
public class HierarchicalInheritanceTest {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		Scooter scooter = new Scooter();
		scooter.applyBrake();
		SportBike bike = new SportBike();
		bike.applyBrake();
	}
}
Output:
Scooter: Override apply brake method...
Motorcycle : apply brake

Download code 

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