What is the difference between inheritance and mixins?

Can you explain the difference between inheritance and mixins?

Sure! Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class, while mixins are a way to add functionality to classes without using inheritance.

Can you give me an example of each?

Of course! Inheritance might look like a 'Dog' class inheriting from an 'Animal' class. A mixin could be a 'Flyable' mixin that adds flying capabilities to both 'Bird' and 'Airplane' classes.

When should I use mixins instead of inheritance?

Use mixins when you want to share functionality across different classes that don't share a common ancestor. It's great for code reuse!

Are there any downsides to using mixins?

Yes, mixins can lead to complexity and make the code harder to understand if overused. It's important to use them judiciously.