What is the difference between inheritance and composition in programming?

What is the difference between inheritance and composition in programming?

Inheritance is a way to create a new class based on an existing class, inheriting its properties and methods. Composition, on the other hand, involves building a class using instances of other classes, allowing for more flexible and reusable code.

Can you give me an example of each?

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

Which one is better to use?

It depends on the situation. Inheritance is useful for a clear hierarchical relationship, while composition is better for flexibility and avoiding tight coupling.

Are there any drawbacks to using inheritance?

Yes, inheritance can lead to issues like the fragile base class problem and tight coupling, making code harder to maintain.