Western Governors University (WGU) ITSW 2113 D278 Scripting and Programming Foundations Practice Exam

Inheritance is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming that allows the creation of a new class based on an existing class. This new class, often referred to as a subclass or derived class, inherits attributes and behaviors (methods) from the existing class, known as the superclass or base class.

This mechanism enables code reuse, as the subclass can take advantage of the established functionalities of the superclass while also allowing for modifications or the addition of new features. For instance, if a base class defines general characteristics of a vehicle, a derived class can represent a specific type of vehicle, like a car, inheriting the general behaviors while also implementing its specific attributes, such as the number of doors or type of fuel used.

This relationship fosters a hierarchical structure, making the code more organized and manageable. It streamlines updates and maintenance; changes in the base class can automatically propagate to all derived classes, thus reducing redundancy. Additionally, inheritance allows objects of the subclass to be treated as objects of the superclass, enhancing polymorphism in programming.