What is Hybrid Inheritance With Example in Python

Categories Python

Hybrid inheritance in Python refers to a situation where a class inherits from multiple base classes using a combination of single and multiple inheritance.

Here’s an example that demonstrates hybrid inheritance in Python:

# Base class 1
class Animal:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
    
    def eat(self):
        print(f"{self.name} is eating.")

# Base class 2
class Mammal:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
    
    def walk(self):
        print(f"{self.name} is walking.")

# Derived class inheriting from both Animal and Mammal
class Human(Animal, Mammal):
    def __init__(self, name):
        # Calling the constructors of both base classes
        Animal.__init__(self, name)
        Mammal.__init__(self, name)

    def speak(self):
        print(f"{self.name} says hello.")

# Creating an instance of the Human class
john = Human("John")
john.eat()  # Output: John is eating.
john.walk()  # Output: John is walking.
john.speak()  # Output: John says hello.
Code language: Python (python)

In the above example, we have three classes: Animal, Mammal, and Human. The Human class inherits from both Animal and Mammal, resulting in hybrid inheritance.

The Human class has access to the methods and attributes of both Animal and Mammal classes. The Human class defines its own method speak(), in addition to inheriting the eat() and walk() methods from the base classes.

Read More: What is Inheritance With Examples in Python

Example for single inheritance in Python

Here’s an example that demonstrates single inheritance in Python:

# Base class
class Animal:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
    
    def eat(self):
        print(f"{self.name} is eating.")

# Derived class inheriting from Animal
class Dog(Animal):
    def __init__(self, name, breed):
        # Calling the constructor of the base class
        super().__init__(name)
        self.breed = breed
    
    def bark(self):
        print(f"{self.name} is barking.")

# Creating an instance of the Dog class
dog = Dog("Max", "Labrador")
dog.eat()  # Output: Max is eating.
dog.bark()  # Output: Max is barking.
Code language: Python (python)

In the above example, we have a base class Animal and a derived class Dog that inherits from the Animal class. This represents single inheritance because Dog inherits the attributes and methods of the Animal class.

The Animal class defines an __init__ method to initialize the name attribute and an eat method to simulate eating.

The Dog class extends the Animal class and adds its own __init__ method to initialize both the name and breed attributes. It also defines a bark method specific to dogs.

When we create an instance of the Dog class and call its methods, it can access both the methods defined in the Dog class (bark) and the methods inherited from the Animal class (eat).

Is hybrid inheritance supported in Python?

Hybrid inheritance, as commonly defined, is not directly supported in Python.

Hybrid inheritance refers to a combination of single and multiple inheritance, where a class inherits from multiple base classes using both single and multiple inheritance mechanisms simultaneously.

In Python, multiple inheritance allows a class to inherit from multiple base classes, but it does not distinguish between single and multiple inheritance.

Python supports multiple inheritance, where a class can inherit attributes and methods from more than one base class.

However, Python resolves method resolution order (MRO) conflicts using a linearization algorithm known as the C3 linearization algorithm.

While Python does not explicitly support hybrid inheritance, you can achieve similar functionality by combining multiple inheritance with composition or by using mixins (classes containing a specific behavior that can be added to other classes).

These approaches can provide the flexibility and reusability similar to hybrid inheritance.

It’s worth noting that the design and use of multiple inheritance, composition, and mixins require careful consideration to avoid potential complexities and conflicts.

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  • Dmytro Iliushko

    I am a middle python software engineer with a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from Kharkiv National Aerospace University. My expertise lies in Python, Django, Flask, Docker, REST API, Odoo development, relational databases, and web development. I am passionate about creating efficient and scalable software solutions that drive innovation in the industry.

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