What are the differences between type classes and inheritance?

What are the differences between type classes and inheritance?

Type classes are a feature of some programming languages that allow for ad-hoc polymorphism, while inheritance is a way to create a new class based on an existing class, enabling code reuse and a hierarchical relationship.

Can you give an example of type classes in Haskell?

Sure! In Haskell, you might define a type class like this:

class Show a where
    show :: a -> String

This allows any type that implements the Show class to define how it should be converted to a String.

How does inheritance work in object-oriented programming?

In object-oriented programming, inheritance allows a class (child) to inherit properties and methods from another class (parent). For example, if you have a class Animal, a class Dog can inherit from Animal, gaining its attributes and behaviors.

Which approach is better for code organization?

It depends on the use case. Type classes offer more flexibility and can lead to more modular code, while inheritance can simplify relationships and promote code reuse. Each has its strengths!