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Multiple inheritances

Why is multiple inheritances not supported in Java

1st Apr 2018, 11:26 AM
Sri3di
Sri3di - avatar
1 Answer
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Simplicity I want to share the definition for java given by James Gosling. JAVA: A simple, object oriented, distributed, interpreted, robust, secure, architecture neutral, portable, high performance, multithreaded, dynamic language. Look at the beauty of this definition for java. This should be the definition for a modern software language. What is the first characteristic in the language definition? It is simple. In order to enforce simplicity should be the main reason for omitting multiple inheritance. For instance, we can consider diamond problem of multiple inheritance. We have two classes B and C inheriting from A. Assume that B and C are overriding an inherited method and they provide their own implementation. Now D inherits from both B and C doing multiple inheritance. D should inherit that overridden method, which overridden method will be used? Will it be from B or C? Here we have an ambiguity. In C++ there is a possibility to get into this trap though it provides alternates to solve this. In java this can never occur as there is no multiple inheritance. Here even if two interfaces are going to have same method, the implementing class will have only one method and that too will be done by the implementer. Dynamic loading of classes makes the implementation of multiple inheritance difficult. Rarely Used We have been using java for long now. How many times have we faced a situation where we are stranded and facing the wall because of the lack of support for multiple inheritance in java? With my personal experience I don’t remember even once. Since it is rarely required, multiple inheritance can be safely omitted considering the complexity it has for implementation. It is not worth the hassle and the path of simplicity is chosen. source: https://javapapers.com/core-java/why-multiple-inheritance-is-not-supported-in-java/
1st Apr 2018, 11:55 AM
Baraa AB
Baraa AB - avatar