What are the differences between composition and inheritance in programming?

What are the differences between composition and inheritance in programming?

Composition and inheritance are both ways to achieve code reuse in object-oriented programming. Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class, while composition involves building classes using instances of other classes.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! Inheritance example: a Dog class inherits from an Animal class. Composition example: a Car class that has an Engine class as a property.

Which one is generally preferred and why?

Composition is often preferred because it provides more flexibility and reduces tight coupling between classes, making the code easier to maintain.

Are there any downsides to using composition?

Yes, composition can lead to more complex code structures and may require more boilerplate code to set up relationships between classes.