C++ Inheritance
In C++, inheritance is a process in which one object acquires all the properties and behaviors of its parent
object automatically. In such way, you can reuse, extend or modify the attributes and behaviors which are
defined in other class.
In C++, the class which inherits the members of another class is called derived class and the class whose
members are inherited is called base class. The derived class is the specialized class for the base class.
Advantage of C++ Inheritance
Code reusability: Now you can reuse the members of your parent class. So, there is no need to define the
member again. So less code is required in the class.
Types Of Inheritance
o Single inheritance
o Multiple inheritance
o Hierarchical inheritance
o Multilevel inheritance
o Hybrid inheritance
Derived Classes
A Derived class is defined as the class derived from the base class.
The Syntax of Derived class:
1. class derived_class_name : visibility-mode base_class_name
2. {
3. // body of the derived class.
4. }
Where,
derived_class_name: It is the name of the derived class.
visibility mode: The visibility mode specifies whether the features of the base class are publicly inherited or
privately inherited. It can be public or private.
base_class_name: It is the name of the base class.
o When the base class is privately inherited by the derived class, public members of the base class
becomes the private members of the derived class. Therefore, the public members of the base class
are not accessible by the objects of the derived class only by the member functions of the derived
class.
o When the base class is publicly inherited by the derived class, public members of the base class also
become the public members of the derived class. Therefore, the public members of the base class are
accessible by the objects of the derived class as well as by the member functions of the base class.
Note:
o In C++, the default mode of visibility is private.
o The private members of the base class are never inherited.
1. C++ Single Inheritance
Single inheritance is defined as the inheritance in which a derived class is inherited from the only one base
class.
Where 'A' is the base class, and 'B' is the derived class.
C++ Single Level Inheritance Example: Inheriting Fields
When one class inherits another class, it is known as single level inheritance. Let's see the example of single
level inheritance which inherits the fields only.
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class Account {
4. public:
5. float salary = 60000;
6. };
7. class Programmer: public Account {
8. public:
9. float bonus = 5000;
10. };
11. int main(void) {
12. Programmer p1;
13. cout<<"Salary: "<<[Link]<<”\n”;
14. cout<<"Bonus: "<<[Link]<<”\n”;
15. getch();
16. return 0;
17. }
Output:
Salary: 60000
Bonus: 5000
In the above example, Employee is the base class and Programmer is the derived class.
C++ Single Level Inheritance Example: Inheriting Methods
Let's see another example of inheritance in C++ which inherits methods only.
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class Animal {
4. public:
5. void eat() {
6. cout<<"Eating..."<<endl;
7. }
8. };
9. class Dog: public Animal
10. {
11. public:
12. void bark(){
13. cout<<"Barking...";
14. }
15. };
16. int main(void) {
17. Dog d1;
18. [Link]();
19. [Link]();
20. return 0;
21. }
Output:
Eating...
Barking...
Let's see a simple example.
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class A
4. {
5. int a = 4;
6. int b = 5;
7. public:
8. int mul()
9. {
10. int c = a*b;
11. return c;
12. }
13. };
14.
15. class B : private A
16. {
17. public:
18. void display()
19. {
20. int result = mul();
21. cout<<"Multiplication of a and b is : "<<result<< ”\n”;
22. }
23. };
24. int main()
25. {
26. B b;
27. [Link]();
28.
29. return 0;
30. }
Output:
Multiplication of a and b is : 20
In the above example, class A is privately inherited. Therefore, the mul() function of class 'A' cannot be
accessed by the object of class B. It can only be accessed by the member function of class B.
How to make a Private Member Inheritable
The private member is not inheritable. If we modify the visibility mode by making it public, but this takes
away the advantage of data hiding.
C++ introduces a third visibility modifier, i.e., protected. The member which is declared as protected will
be accessible to all the member functions within the class as well as the class immediately derived from it.
Visibility modes can be classified into three categories:
o Public: When the member is declared as public, it is accessible to all the functions of the program.
o Private: When the member is declared as private, it is accessible within the class only.
o Protected: When the member is declared as protected, it is accessible within its own class as well as
the class immediately derived from it.
Visibility of Inherited Members
Base class visibility Derived class visibility
Public Private Protected
Private Not Inherited Not Inherited Not Inherited
Protected Protected Private Protected
Public Public Private Protected
2. C++ Multilevel Inheritance
Multilevel inheritance is a process of deriving a class from another derived class.
C++ Multi Level Inheritance Example
When one class inherits another class which is further inherited by another class, it is known as multi level
inheritance in C++. Inheritance is transitive so the last derived class acquires all the members of all its base
classes.
Let's see the example of multi level inheritance in C++.
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class Animal {
4. public:
5. void eat() {
6. cout<<"Eating..."<<endl;
7. }
8. };
9. class Dog: public Animal
10. {
11. public:
12. void bark(){
13. cout<<"Barking..."<<endl;
14. }
15. };
16. class BabyDog: public Dog
17. {
18. public:
19. void weep() {
20. cout<<"Weeping...";
21. }
22. };
23. int main(void) {
24. BabyDog d1;
25. [Link]();
26. [Link]();
27. [Link]();
28. return 0;
29. }
Output:
Eating...
Barking...
Weeping...
3. C++ Multiple Inheritance
Multiple inheritance is the process of deriving a new class that inherits the attributes from two or more
classes.
Syntax of the Derived class:
1. class D : visibility B-1, visibility B-2, ?
2. {
3. // Body of the class;
4. }
Let's see a simple example of multiple inheritance.
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class A
4. {
5. protected:
6. int a;
7. public:
8. void get_a(int n)
9. {
10. a = n;
11. }
12. };
13.
14. class B
15. {
16. protected:
17. int b;
18. public:
19. void get_b(int n)
20. {
21. b = n;
22. }
23. };
24. class C : public A,public B
25. {
26. public:
27. void display()
28. {
29. cout << "The value of a is : " <<a<< “\n”;
30. cout << "The value of b is : " <<b<<”\n”;
31. cout<<"Addition of a and b is : "<<a+b;
32. }
33. };
34. int main()
35. {
36. C c;
37. c.get_a(10);
38. c.get_b(20);
39. [Link]();
40.
41. return 0;
42. }
Output:
The value of a is : 10
The value of b is : 20
Addition of a and b is : 30
In the above example, class 'C' inherits two base classes 'A' and 'B' in a public mode.
Ambiquity Resolution in Inheritance
Ambiguity can be occurred in using the multiple inheritance when a function with the same name occurs in
more than one base class.
Let's understand this through an example:
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class A
4. {
5. public:
6. void display()
7. {
8. cout << "Class A" << “\n”;
9. }
10. };
11. class B
12. {
13. public:
14. void display()
15. {
1. cout << "Class B" << “\n”;
16. }
17. };
18. class C : public A, public B
19. {
20. void view()
21. {
22. display();
23. }
24. };
25. int main()
26. {
27. C c;
28. [Link]();
29. return 0;
30. }
Output:
error: reference to 'display' is ambiguous
display();
o The above issue can be resolved by using the class resolution operator with the function. In the above
example, the derived class code can be rewritten as:
1. class C : public A, public B
2. {
3. void view()
4. {
5. A :: display(); // Calling the display() function of class A.
6. B :: display(); // Calling the display() function of class B.
7.
8. }
9. };
An ambiguity can also occur in single inheritance.
Consider the following situation:
1. class A
2. {
3. public:
4. void display()
5. {
6. cout<<?Class A?;
7. }
8. } ;
9. class B
10. {
11. public:
12. void display()
13. {
14. cout<<?Class B?;
15. }
16. } ;
In the above case, the function of the derived class overrides the method of the base class. Therefore, call to
the display() function will simply call the function defined in the derived class. If we want to invoke the base
class function, we can use the class resolution operator.
1. int main()
2. {
3. B b;
4. [Link](); // Calling the display() function of B class.
5. b.B :: display(); // Calling the display() function defined in B class.
6. }
4. C++ Hybrid Inheritance
Hybrid inheritance is a combination of more than one type of inheritance.
Let's see a simple example:
1. #include <iostream.h>
2. #include <conio.h>
3. class A
4. {
5. protected:
6. int a;
7. public:
8. void get_a()
9. {
10. cout << "Enter the value of 'a' : " << “\n”;
11. cin>>a;
12. }
13. };
14.
15. class B : public A
16. {
17. protected:
18. int b;
19. public:
20. void get_b()
21. {
22. cout<< "Enter the value of 'b' : " << ”\n”;
23. cin>>b;
24. }
25. };
26. class C
27. {
28. protected:
29. int c;
30. public:
31. void get_c()
32. {
33. cout<< "Enter the value of c is : " << ”\n”;
34. cin>>c;
35. }
36. };
37.
38. class D : public B, public C
39. {
40. protected:
41. int d;
42. public:
43. void mul()
44. {
45. get_a();
46. get_b();
47. get_c();
48. cout<< "Multiplication of a,b,c is : " <<a*b*c<< ”\n”;
49. }
50. };
51. int main()
52. {
53. D d;
54. [Link]();
55. return 0;
56. }
Output:
Enter the value of 'a' :
10
Enter the value of 'b' :
20
Enter the value of c is :
30
Multiplication of a,b,c is : 6000
5. C++ Hierarchical Inheritance
Hierarchical inheritance is defined as the process of deriving more than one class from a base class.
Syntax of Hierarchical inheritance:
1. class A
2. {
3. // body of the class A.
4. }
5. class B : public A
6. {
7. // body of class B.
8. }
9. class C : public A
10. {
11. // body of class C.
12. }
13. class D : public A
14. {
15. // body of class D.
16. }
Let's see a simple example:
1. #include <iostream>
2. using namespace std;
3. class Shape // Declaration of base class.
4. {
5. public:
6. int a;
7. int b;
8. void get_data(int n,int m)
9. {
10. a= n;
11. b = m;
12. }
13. };
14. class Rectangle : public Shape // inheriting Shape class
15. {
16. public:
17. int rect_area()
18. {
19. int result = a*b;
20. return result;
21. }
22. };
23. class Triangle : public Shape // inheriting Shape class
24. {
25. public:
26. int triangle_area()
27. {
28. float result = 0.5*a*b;
29. return result;
30. }
31. };
32. int main()
33. {
34. Rectangle r;
35. Triangle t;
36. int length,breadth,base,height;
37. cout<< "Enter the length and breadth of a rectangle: " << ”\n”;
38. cin>>length>>breadth;
39. r.get_data(length,breadth);
40. int m = r.rect_area();
41. cout<< "Area of the rectangle is : " <<m<< ”\n”;
42. cout<< "Enter the base and height of the triangle: " << ”\n”;
43. cin>>base>>height;
44. t.get_data(base,height);
45. float n = t.triangle_area();
46. cout<<"Area of the triangle is : " << n<<“\n”;
47. return 0;
48. }
Output:
Enter the length and breadth of a rectangle:
23
20
Area of the rectangle is : 460
Enter the base and height of the triangle:
2
5
Area of the triangle is : 5
public, protected and private inheritance in C++
public, protected, and private inheritance have the following features:
public inheritance makes public members of the base class public in the derived class, and
the protected members of the base class remain protected in the derived class.
protected inheritance makes the public and protected members of the base class protected in the
derived class.
private inheritance makes the public and protected members of the base class private in the
derived class.
Note: private members of the base class are inaccessible to the derived class.
class Base {
public:
int x;
protected:
int y;
private:
int z;
};
class PublicDerived: public Base {
// x is public
// y is protected
// z is not accessible from PublicDerived
};
class ProtectedDerived: protected Base {
// x is protected
// y is protected
// z is not accessible from ProtectedDerived
};
class PrivateDerived: private Base {
// x is private
// y is private
// z is not accessible from PrivateDerived
};
Example 1: C++ public Inheritance
// C++ program to demonstrate the working of public inheritance
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Base {
private:
int pvt = 1;
protected:
int prot = 2;
public:
int pub = 3;
// function to access private member
int getPVT() {
return pvt;
}
};
class PublicDerived : public Base {
public:
// function to access protected member from Base
int getProt() {
return prot;
}
};
int main() {
PublicDerived object1;
cout << "Private = " << [Link]() << endl;
cout << "Protected = " << [Link]() << endl;
cout << "Public = " << [Link] << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code
Output
Private = 1
Protected = 2
Public = 3
Here, we have derived PublicDerived from Base in public mode.
As a result, in PublicDerived:
prot is inherited as protected.
pub and getPVT() are inherited as public.
pvt is inaccessible since it is private in Base.
Since private and protected members are not accessible from main(), we need to create public
functions getPVT() and getProt() to access them:
// Error: member "Base::pvt" is inaccessible
cout << "Private = " << [Link];
// Error: member "Base::prot" is inaccessible
cout << "Protected = " << [Link];
Notice that the getPVT() function has been defined inside Base. But the getProt() function has been defined
inside PublicDerived.
This is because pvt, which is private in Base, is inaccessible to PublicDerived.
However, prot is accessible to PublicDerived due to public inheritance. So, getProt() can access the
protected variable from within PublicDerived.
Accessibility in public Inheritance
Accessibility private members protected members public members
Base Class Yes Yes Yes
Derived Class No Yes Yes
Example 2: C++ protected Inheritance
// C++ program to demonstrate the working of protected inheritance
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Base {
private:
int pvt = 1;
protected:
int prot = 2;
public:
int pub = 3;
// function to access private member
int getPVT() {
return pvt;
}
};
class ProtectedDerived : protected Base {
public:
// function to access protected member from Base
int getProt() {
return prot;
}
// function to access public member from Base
int getPub() {
return pub;
}
};
int main() {
ProtectedDerived object1;
cout << "Private cannot be accessed." << endl;
cout << "Protected = " << [Link]() << endl;
cout << "Public = " << [Link]() << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code
Output
Private cannot be accessed.
Protected = 2
Public = 3
Here, we have derived ProtectedDerived from Base in protected mode.
As a result, in ProtectedDerived:
prot, pub and getPVT() are inherited as protected.
pvt is inaccessible since it is private in Base.
As we know, protected members cannot be directly accessed from outside the class. As a result, we cannot
use getPVT() from ProtectedDerived.
That is also why we need to create the getPub() function in ProtectedDerived in order to access
the pub variable.
// Error: member "Base::getPVT()" is inaccessible
cout << "Private = " << [Link]();
// Error: member "Base::pub" is inaccessible
cout << "Public = " << [Link];
Accessibility in protected Inheritance
private protected
Accessibility public members
members members
Base Class Yes Yes Yes
Derived Yes (inherited as protected
No Yes
Class variables)
Example 3: C++ private Inheritance
// C++ program to demonstrate the working of private inheritance
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Base {
private:
int pvt = 1;
protected:
int prot = 2;
public:
int pub = 3;
// function to access private member
int getPVT() {
return pvt;
}
};
class PrivateDerived : private Base {
public:
// function to access protected member from Base
int getProt() {
return prot;
}
// function to access private member
int getPub() {
return pub;
}
};
int main() {
PrivateDerived object1;
cout << "Private cannot be accessed." << endl;
cout << "Protected = " << [Link]() << endl;
cout << "Public = " << [Link]() << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code
Output
Private cannot be accessed.
Protected = 2
Public = 3
Here, we have derived PrivateDerived from Base in private mode.
As a result, in PrivateDerived:
prot, pub and getPVT() are inherited as private.
pvt is inaccessible since it is private in Base.
As we know, private members cannot be directly accessed from outside the class. As a result, we cannot
use getPVT() from PrivateDerived.
That is also why we need to create the getPub() function in PrivateDerived in order to access
the pub variable.
// Error: member "Base::getPVT()" is inaccessible
cout << "Private = " << [Link]();
// Error: member "Base::pub" is inaccessible
cout << "Public = " << [Link];
Accessibility in private Inheritance
private
Accessibility protected members public members
members
Base Class Yes Yes Yes
Derived Yes (inherited as private Yes (inherited as private
No
Class variables) variables)