How Does Java Handle Multiple Inheritance Without True Multiple Inheritance?

Multiple Inheritance in Java

Java lacks traditional multiple inheritance, where a class can inherit from multiple superclasses. This poses a challenge when modeling entities with multiple inheritance scenarios. A classic example is Pegasus, a mythical creature that inherits traits from both birds and horses.

One solution to this problem is to create interfaces for the base classes (e.g., Animal, Bird, and Horse) and have the child class (e.g., Pegasus) implement these interfaces. This enables the child class to inherit behavior from multiple base classes.

public interface Animal {}
public interface Bird extends Animal {}
public interface Horse extends Animal {}

public class Pegasus implements Bird, Horse {
}

This approach allows the creation of objects for birds and horses by implementing the respective interfaces:

public class BirdImpl implements Bird {}
public class HorseImpl implements Horse {}

Alternatively, one can create an abstract class representing shared behaviors and have the child classes extend that abstract class while implementing the necessary interfaces:

public abstract class AbstractAnimal implements Animal {}

public class HorseImpl extends AbstractAnimal implements Horse {}
public class PegasusImpl extends AbstractAnimal implements Bird, Horse {}

By utilizing interfaces and abstract classes, one can achieve multiple inheritance without violating Java's single inheritance restriction. This allows for flexible modeling of complex inheritance relationships.

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