What is Django single table inheritance?

Can you explain what Django single table inheritance is?

Sure! Django single table inheritance is a way to model class hierarchies in your database using a single table. It allows you to define a base model and then create subclasses that inherit from it, all stored in one database table.

How does it differ from multi-table inheritance?

In multi-table inheritance, each model has its own table, which can lead to more complex queries and joins. Single table inheritance keeps everything in one table, simplifying queries but potentially leading to a lot of nullable fields.

Can you give me an example of how to implement it?

Certainly! You would define a base model with common fields, then create subclasses that add specific fields. For example:

class Animal(models.Model):
    name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
    type = models.CharField(max_length=100)

class Dog(Animal):
    bark_volume = models.IntegerField()

class Cat(Animal):
    scratch_post = models.BooleanField(default=False)

What are the advantages of using single table inheritance?

The main advantages include simpler queries, less database overhead, and easier management of related data since everything is in one table.