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 a few 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.

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 that can lead to tight coupling.

What are some common pitfalls to avoid with inheritance?

Common pitfalls include creating deep inheritance trees, which can make code difficult to understand, and using inheritance for code reuse when composition would be more appropriate. Also, be cautious with method overriding, as it can lead to unexpected behavior if not done carefully.

How can I implement multiple inheritance in Python?

You can implement multiple inheritance in Python by defining a class that inherits from multiple parent classes. Just ensure that the methods and attributes from the parent classes do not conflict, and be aware of the method resolution order (MRO) to avoid ambiguity.