What are the best practices for using inheritance in Python?

What are the best practices for using inheritance in Python?

When using inheritance in Python, it's important to follow these best practices: 1. Prefer composition over inheritance. 2. Use clear and descriptive class names. 3. Keep the inheritance hierarchy shallow. 4. Override methods carefully and ensure they maintain the expected behavior. 5. Use super() to call parent class methods.

Can you explain why composition is preferred over inheritance?

Composition is often preferred because it promotes flexibility and reusability. It allows you to build complex behaviors by combining simpler objects, rather than relying on a rigid class hierarchy. This makes your code easier to maintain and adapt.

What is a shallow inheritance hierarchy?

A shallow inheritance hierarchy means having fewer levels of inheritance. This makes the code easier to understand and reduces complexity, as each class has a clearer purpose and fewer dependencies on parent classes.

How do I use the super() function in Python?

You can use the super() function to call methods from a parent class. For example, in a child class, you can use super().method_name() to invoke the method from the parent class, ensuring that the parent class's behavior is preserved.